Paris 1968 Postcard Set

Set of eight (8) postcards from the May 1968 Worker and Student Uprisings in Paris, various designs from Atelier Populaire (Popular Workshop). 

On 14 May 1968, art students, artists and workers occupied the studios of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, to produce posters. The Atelier Populaire printed more than 350 different posters. The designs were anonymous and distributed free of charge.

Originating as student protests and occupations against capitalism, the May 1968 unrest grew into a mass movement and general strikes - including both official trade union strikes and wildcat actions - in reaction to police repression. Barricades were erected and police assaults were countered with bricks and paving stones. President De Gaulle fled to West Germany, fearing an imminent revolution. During this time the Government made a deal with the trade unions, increasing the minimum wage by 35% and increasing pay by 10%, better protection and a shorter working day. Eventually the National Assembly was closed down and a General Election was called, which De Gaulle won massively. The uprising tailed off.

The uprising inspired an explosion of revolutionary graffiti, inspired by Situationism (for example: "be realistic, demand the impossible") and poster art. Mass produced simple one colour screen prints became symbolic of the uprising.

The images on these postcards are either digitally cleaned up to remove tears or stains etc, or completely recreated to be as close as possible to the original. Postcards come in sets of 8 designs, with space on the back for a stamp and an address. The postcards are A6 size (approximately 4.1 by 5.8 inches) and (apart from the Spain set) are made of 350gm postcard board.

Printed by the Radical Poster Collective, UK.