Nord Express, 1927, A.M. Cassandre – Oversized poster 100 x 140 cm

Cassandre, who was the uncontested leader of French poster-makers between the two world wars, still remains on a worldwide level the best-known and recognised graphic artist of the period: collectors will pay a fortune for his originals. With only a few exceptions, the hundred-odd posters he produced between 1925 and 1935 have a strength and impact which mark a difference from even his most talented competitors. As the American writer Paul Rand put it: « there can only be one Cassandre per century », and Blaise Cendrars hailed Cassandre as the « street's stage director ».