La Chablisienne (1926) – Vintage French wine poster by Henri Le Monnier

by Roger VDB

This French vintage wine poster from 1926, designed by Henri Le Monnier for La Chablisienne, is an example of the colourful advertising art of the interwar period. The original poster, entitled *La Chablisienne – Ses Chablis Authentiques*, was created to promote the famous wine cooperative from Chablis in Burgundy.

At the centre is a red-haired woman in a classic, golden-yellow gown, surrounded by vines and bunches of grapes. She is holding up a bottle of Chablis whilst standing atop a globe. The image alludes to the international renown of this French white wine and presents Chablis as the centre of the wine world.

The colour scheme features striking contrasts between deep blue, red, golden yellow and green. The flowing lines, stylised figures and decorative typography are in keeping with the Art Deco style of the 1920s.

The original poster was printed as a colour lithograph by Affiches Lutetia in Paris. With this traditional printing technique, different colours were applied separately, allowing large areas of colour to be combined with detailed illustrations.

The work bears a resemblance to the French advertising posters by Leonetto Cappiello and Jean d’'’Ylen, artists who were also renowned for their striking compositions and graphic design.

This historic Chablis poster brings together French wine culture, Art Deco and vintage graphic art. The design reflects the evolution of French poster art and the visual identity of the Burgundian wine tradition.