POUR LE DESARMEMENT DES NATIONS Lot n° 39

Composition by Jean Carlu from a photograph by André Vigneau for the creation of the poster, 1932. Photograph. Period silver print, captioned, dated, stamped and annotated on the back. 20 x 15.2 cm. Retouching on the lettering for publication and traces of handling. Bibliography : "Arts et Métiers Graphiques", March 15, 1932, n°28. Article "L'affiche Intermittente" by Maximilien Vox: "One of the highlights of the vernissage of Les Artistes Modernes, on February 4, was undoubtedly the striking poster composed by Jean Carlu in collaboration with Vigneau pour le Désarmement. - By its dimensions, by a new graphic use of photography, and, it must be said, by its poignantly topical subject, did this nail sink into certain skulls? The poster mysteriously disappeared from the exhibition for a few days, from noon on Saturday the 6th to a quarter to noon on Wednesday, and during this time visitors were free to admire a considerable stretch of wall in the graphic design room, which was deprived of one of its elements. The facts themselves, different versions of which are circulating, have been reported in the press. There has been talk of a removal? of authority by? unauthorized authorities, of a general assembly of the U.A.M., of a unanimous agenda, of the official disavowal of the suppression of a work edited by an official committee, and of a hasty reinstatement. In any case, the incident is definitively closed to everyone's satisfaction, "Arts et Métiers Graphiques" would like to congratulate itself on this indication that graphic works are not to be appreciated according to their tendencies, but according to their artistic and technical qualities. Otherwise, any kind of exhibition would become impossible, graphic design being in the last analysis only the means of expressing a message, whatever it may be. And even if the bombing of the civilian population by airplanes would be a meritorious, commendable, and delightful performance for those concerned, one would still