« O.N.U. pour la Paix du Monde »

Five overlapping female silhouettes, their fluid contours rendered in a chromatic spectrum running from red through orange, yellow, green and blue to violet. The central figure, in UN blue, holds a white olive branch, the universal symbol of peace; she unites in diversity the silhouettes standing side by side, partially merging into one another, evoking the different nations — perhaps the five continents — peoples or cultures, gathered around a shared ideal of peace: a Pax moderna embodied not by force but by feminine presence, diplomacy, gentleness and mediation.

The UN’s Blue Helmets were officially created with the establishment of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) during the Suez Crisis in 1956. Proposed by the Canadian diplomat Lester B. Pearson, this multinational armed force was tasked with supervising the withdrawal of belligerent forces and maintaining peace.

Jean Jacquelin is well known for having designed the dust jackets for numerous editions published by Presses de la Cité, but he was above all a celebrated poster artist. Artistic director of the Step agency from 1929, he produced numerous film posters from 1940 onward while continuing his work as a commercial illustrator across many sectors: automobiles (Peugeot, Delage, Simca, Buick, Fiat), energy (Antar, Esso, Shell), press and publishing (Paris-Soir, L’Intransigeant, Éditions Froissart, Presses de la Cité), fashion (Scandale, Magasin Le Printemps), brands and events (Crédit Foncier, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Coop, Vittel, Casino d’Enghien, Brandt, Champagne Mercier, Semaine du cinéma, Les Châteaux de la Loire), and tourism and travel (Air France, Aéropostale, Compagnie Transatlantique).

A major exhibition was devoted to him in 1993 at the Bibliothèque Forney, accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue (Jean Jacquelin affichiste et dessinateur publicitaire; Bibliothèque Forney exhibition, April 29 to May 28, 1993).

A unique piece, in fine condition.

A beautiful composition.