Vintage poster for Messageries Maritimes Indian Ocean by Desruol - 1953

This vintage poster, titled "Messageries Maritimes, Indian Ocean Line," is a striking cartographic and advertising work created by the artist Desruol around 1953 for the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes. Published by Schneider Frères & Mary, it adopts a mid-20th-century modernist style, using a vibrant palette of reds, oranges, and touches of gold. The map illustrates, in a stylized and artistic manner, the maritime routes connecting East Africa, Madagascar, and the islands of the Indian Ocean. It features bold pictorial representations inspired by local fauna and traditional arts (masks, birds, zebus), lending the whole a cultural and exotic dimension. On the right-hand side, four iconic ships of the fleet are depicted: the "Ferdinand de Lesseps," the "Jean Laborde," the "La Bourdonnais," and the "Pierre Loti." This piece, both geographical and decorative, testifies to the golden age of great French maritime voyages. The map measures 76 cm by 56 cm.

Condition :

Very good condition. Please note, my maps are old and not always in perfect condition!

List of the main locations represented:

Mombasa, Dar-Es-Salam, Comoros, Diego-Suarez, Nossi-Bé, Majunga, Tamatave, Saint-Denis (Reunion), Port-Louis (Mauritius), Mozambique Channel, Madagascar.