Large 1950s French School Wall Chart “The Department Store” - 23¼" x 31"

This large-scale French school wall chart, titled The Department Store, is a color offset lithograph on paper later set into a simple dark-stained wooden frame under glass. It depicts a bustling mid-century department store with escalators, sweeping staircases, and clearly labeled counters for perfumes, gloves, hosiery, silks, hats, and more, rendered in soft greens, teal, ochre, and russet. Produced in the 1950s, it retains crisp line work and legible captions. The piece is in very good, timeworn condition, with gentle overall toning, slight rippling to the sheet, and minor handling marks consistent with classroom use.

Educational wall charts of this type were standard teaching aids in French classrooms from the late nineteenth century through the mid twentieth century, used to build vocabulary and introduce facets of modern society. Rossignol was among the foremost publishers, known for clear, didactic imagery and robust printing suited to daily use. Typically printed on both sides with two themes, this example carries The Department Store on one side and a different subject on the reverse, later framed so only the present scene is visible. The composition reflects postwar consumer culture and the long French tradition of the grand department store that began in the late nineteenth century, with architectural cues such as the luminous ceiling and escalators signaling modern convenience and civic spectacle.

As decorative art, this chart brings color, narrative, and a touch of Parisian urbanity to an interior. It suits a kitchen, family room, study, or child’s playroom, and it also reads well in a boutique, dressing room, or hospitality space.