N. RAPIDE / COTE D'EMERAUDE PYRENEES. 1932. 39X241/2 inches. Périn-Dufour, Paris. Condition A-: minor paper loss and repaired tears in margins; writing in top right corner. We know nothing about "N" except that he designed a pair of posters for the Southern Railway: Cote d'Emeraude Pyrenees and Rapide Manche-Ocean. The mystery of the artist is compounded by the fact that these two posters, stylistically identical, were printed in the same year but by two different, equally obscure printers. Unremembered though he may be, his two posters are among the very few really modernist railway posters from that era. In contrast to the splendid force of Cassandre and Fix-Masseau (see lot 31) this poster is a strong, minimalist piece of graphic design. The viewer's eye is irresistibly drawn to a large photograph within a circle (a design element favored by Francis Bernard) of a locomotive's massive wheels. Next to the evocative photo is a boldly-drawn, yet highly stylized and simplified blue line delineating the route of the train. Combined with strong and bold typography this poster is an effective, highly symbolic true masterpiece. Train p. 120 no. 258.
