L'Illustration

The Parisian weekly newspaper L’Illustration was founded in 1843 by the distinguished lawyer and critic Edouard Charton to improve knowledge and artistic tastes, and was one of the first French newspapers to utilise new techniques in printing. Popular in the bistros of Paris since its successful promotion at the 1900 Exposition, St Raphael, an aromatised fortified wine or quinquina created in 1830, became particularly adept at utilising art for advertisement, and closely associated with the happy years of peace between WWI and WWII.

At the title are the twin waiters who came to represent the aperitif, one for the rouge version and the other for the blanc, whilst a French soldier and a British soldier jovially toast each other in celebration. The reality of the prevailing mood however was decidedly different as both nations had just declared war on Germany in response to the invasion of Poland. Following the liberation of Paris, I’llustration ceased printing but St Raphael remains as popular as ever.