8 days of white snow, a year of rosy cheeks

This charming and highly graphic original 1938 French railway poster was designed by Roland Hugon for the SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français). It promotes winter travel with a playful and memorable composition that blends modern design with warmth and humor.

The image features a smiling child in winter clothing peeking out from behind a pair of upright wooden skis, which dominate the center of the composition. The skis are rendered with rich, polished tones, contrasting beautifully with the soft, snowy landscape and pale blue sky behind. Snow-covered mountains in the distance subtly reinforce the alpine setting.

The slogan reads:
“8 jours de neige blanche, une année de joues roses”
(“8 days of white snow, a year of rosy cheeks”),
capturing the healthful, invigorating appeal of winter holidays.

Hugon’s design is strikingly modern for its time, using bold shapes, clean lines, and a limited color palette to create a strong visual impact. The cheerful child, with rosy cheeks and bright expression, embodies the vitality and joy associated with winter sports and fresh mountain air.

The SNCF branding appears at the top, emphasizing rail travel as the gateway to France’s alpine destinations during the golden age of railway tourism.

In very good condition, with strong colors and only light signs of age. A small hole at upper left margin. A delightful and iconic example of pre-war French travel poster design, particularly appealing for collectors of skiing, alpine, or graphic advertising themes.