Raphaël | 1939

1939 French magazine ad for the couture house Raphaël. A white line drawing on a black background of a faceless woman in a fitted suit with a large bow, a small hat and a patterned skirt, holding an umbrella horizontally in front of New York skyscrapers. Large handwritten signature “Raphaël” and the address 3 avenue George V, Paris.

A white chalk-line drawing on black: a woman in a fitted suit, hat and bow, resting an umbrella in front of a skyline of skyscrapers. In July 1939, the Paris couture house Raphaël, at 3 avenue George V, signed its page with nothing but its name and address.

The skyscrapers are no accident. This issue of Plaisir de France was devoted to the French pavilion at the New York World's Fair, and several advertisers dressed their pages in New York.

The silhouette is the late-1930s ideal: strong shoulders, a nipped waist and a slim skirt, elegant and practical for a woman walking in the city.

We could not find reliable information about the house itself; the illustrator's signature is also hard to read.

Text in the ad

Raphaël
3 avenue George V
Paris

Translation:
Raphaël
3 avenue George V
Paris

Brand: Raphaël
Year: 1939
Decade: 1930s
Country: France
Medium: Magazine
Themes: Fashion
Original publication: Plaisir de France, juillet 1939

Raphaël | 1939 · Vintage Ad Museum

{{ T.heroEyebrow }}

{{ T.heroTitle }}

{{ T.heroLede }}

{{ h.alt }} — {{ T.weekPiece }} {{ h.title }} {{ h.meta }} {{ h.excerpt }}

{{ T.browse }}

{{ totalLine }}

{{ T.byDecade }}

{{ T.byCountry }}

{{ T.byTheme }}

{{ T.byMedium }}

{{ T.seriesLabel }}

{{ T.natal }}

{{ T.natalLede }}

{{ T.seriesLabel }}

{{ T.didYouKnow }}

{{ T.latest }}

{{ T.archiveEyebrow }}

{{ T.nav.archive }}

{{ resultLine }}

{{ T.noResults }}

{{ T.timelineEyebrow }}

{{ T.nav.timeline }}

{{ T.timelineLede }}

{{ d.big }} {{ d.label }} · {{ d.count }}

{{ T.nav.about }}

{{ T.aboutTitle }}

{{ p }}

{{ T.founderLabel }}

{{ T.founder }}

{{ p.t }} {{ p.d }}