Date: 1931
Size: 30.5 x 42.5 inches
Artist: Jean D'Ylen
According to Wikipedia, "Plombières-les-Bains is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in eastern France. It is the capital of the Canton of Plombières-les-Bains. Les bains refer to the hot springs in the area, whose properties were first discovered by the Romans. In succeeding centuries, its baths were visited by Montaigne, Voltaire, the Dukes of Guise, the Dukes of Lorraine, Beaumarchais, Napoleon Bonaparte, Josephine de Beauharnais, Napoleon III, Berlioz, Lamartine, and Alfred de Musset."
Originally born Jean-Paul Beguin, D'Ylen changed his last name in 1912. After an early career as a jewelry designer, D'Ylen became a full-time posterist in 1919 and signed an exclusive contract with Vercasson printers in 1922. Inspired by the vibrant colors and typography of Cappiello, D'Ylen's posters integrated sly humor that Cappiello did not. For instance, in this remarkable poster, the gentleman in the wheelchair (replete with fur blanket) has become so cured that he seems prepared to dance a jig. Now that's excellent healthcare!
This poster is in good condition, from a private collection — small repairs (as shown in photos below) which will disappear when the poster is framed under glass.