Le Lait 1933

This is Cassandre’s 1933 lithograph poster, made in France, titled "Le Lait." Cassandre was a commercial artist, and this piece was commissioned by the French Ministry of Agriculture. The phrase "Oui Le Lait c’est la santé", meaning "Yes, Milk is Health" is emblazoned across the image. It's a public service announcement from a time when the French government was increasingly involved in regulating food and nutrition. The clean, modernist design suggests the influence of the Bauhaus School and the De Stijl movement, popular amongst European institutions at the time. It suggests that the consumption of milk is progressive, modern, and healthy. Historical archives from the French Ministry of Agriculture can help us understand the specific health concerns and agricultural policies that prompted this campaign. This poster reveals the intersections of art, government, and public health in interwar France.