This superb 1930 original travel poster by Charles Lautrou was commissioned by the Chemins de Fer de l’État to promote the coastal city of Brest and its surrounding region known as La Côte des Légendes (The Coast of Legends). Featuring a bold yet atmospheric Art Deco composition, it depicts the ancient Château de Brest with its ramparts overlooking the magnificent natural harbour (la rade) and the distant Atlantic horizon. Charles Lautrou’s mastery lies in his stylised treatment of architecture, landscape, and light. Here, his angular lines and glowing palette of ochres, greens, and silvery blues enhance the monumental perspective of the fortress ramparts and the radiant pathways descending towards the sea. The foreground leads the eye powerfully into the serene bay, evoking both historic grandeur and tranquil tourism allure. The poster was printed in 1930 by Rotophot in Paris for Services Automobiles S.A.T.O.S., the regional motor coach lines connected to the railway network. It encouraged Parisians and travellers to explore Brittany’s far western coast, highlighting Brest as both a naval stronghold and a gateway to the mythical ‘Côte des Légendes’, renowned for its windswept shores, legends of saints, and ancient megaliths. Charles Lautrou (active 1920s–1930s) remains lesser-known among travel poster artists, yet his work embodies the idealised geometry and optimistic elegance of pre-war French railway design. Today, this poster is a rare collector’s piece, celebrating the harmony of historic architecture, regional tourism, and refined Art Deco graphic design in interwar France. Finistère - Tourism - Railway - France State Railways - Brittany Printed by Rotophot in Paris Good condition, slight restorations
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