Main 1968: Côte d'Azur, propriété privée

A rare poster with a bold political message

This striking poster echoes the social and cultural struggles of late 1960s France, delivering a sharp message: “Côte d’Azur – Private Property”. Through simple yet symbolic imagery, it denounces the exclusionary practices surrounding access to the French Riviera – a region as contested as it is idyllic.

Produced in Nice by the Imprimerie Spéciale PSU, this piece likely emerged from the protest networks linked to the Unified Socialist Party (PSU) – an influential leftist movement active in intellectual and grassroots circles. The address printed – 15 rue Maréchal Joffre, Nice – indicates a small-scale, local production typical of street-level political resistance during that era.

Minimalist design, maximum impact

With its bold red print on light background, hand-drawn typography, and clear symbolism (a striped barrier, a beach umbrella, a sunbed), this poster delivers a biting critique of coastal privatization. It may have been used in local demonstrations defending public access to beaches, or as a protest against the urban and commercial appropriation of natural spaces along the Riviera.

A visual artefact of historical and artistic value

Rarely seen in collections or catalogs, this poster stands as a valuable witness to the political and visual culture of 1960s southern France. Its handcrafted style, regional roots, and enduring message make it a must-have for collectors of activist posters, graphic protest art, and scholars of post-1968 social movements.