ALGERIAN RAILWAYS POSTER
TIMGAD
by Édouard Herzig
1925
Embedded Files
/Timgad - Roman Algeria - Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l’État - Original 1925 French Travel Poster
by Édouard Herzig (1860-1926)
Ref 07616
This original 1925 French travel poster was created for the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l’État (French Railways) to promote French Algeria through the evocative theme of Roman Algeria, here highlighting the spectacular archaeological site of Timgad. This is the first and authentic edition, not a reproduction—an increasingly scarce example from the golden era of French travel advertising.
Sold without frame.
Measuring 104.5 × 75 cm (41.1 × 29.5 in), the poster features a striking depiction of the ancient ruins of Timgad, emphasizing the cultural importance and tourism appeal of Algeria’s Roman heritage. Designed to inspire travelers of the 1920s, it remains a powerful and historically rich image that resonates with collectors of vintage travel posters, French railway posters, and Roman antiquities–themed art.
For optimal presentation, the poster was professionally cleaned by a conservator who works with French national museums. Importantly, it has not been mounted on linen or board. Instead, it was lightly backed with an ultra-fine Bolloré-type nonwoven paper—a conservation-grade, reversible technique that preserves the artwork’s original flexibility and integrity.
The condition is exceptionally well-preserved for its age. Examples of this poster in such condition are increasingly rare on the market, making it a standout acquisition for discerning collectors.
Édouard Herzig (1860–1926) – Swiss-Born French Painter and Caricaturist Active in Algeria
Édouard Herzig (born December 23, 1860, in Neuchâtel; died October 3, 1926, in Algiers) was a Swiss-born French painter, illustrator, and caricaturist best known for his work in Algeria during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A significant figure in early Algerian Orientalist art, Herzig played an important role in documenting local traditions and advocating for the preservation of Algerian craftsmanship.
Biography
Originally trained for teaching at the École Normale in Neuchâtel, Herzig chose a more adventurous path and left for Algeria in 1883 at the age of 23. He settled in Kabylie, working as a clerk at the Justice of the Peace in Tizi Ouzou. There he met the young painter Azouaou Mammeri, whom he later mentored—an influential relationship in the development of modern Algerian art.
After relocating to Algiers, Herzig studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and became increasingly active in the artistic life of the colony. For the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, he created three popular diaporamas depicting Algiers, Kabylie, and the Saharan South, work that helped introduce Algerian landscapes and culture to a wider European audience. Throughout his career, he was a vocal defender of traditional Algerian arts and craftsmanship.
In 1914, Herzig moved to Paris to allow his daughters to study at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts, returning to Algeria in 1918. His work gained widespread recognition, notably during the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, where the Pavilion of Algeria presented him prominently.
Herzig was the father of two noted painters: Fernande Herzig and Yvonne Kleiss-Herzig (1895–1968), both of whom continued the family’s artistic legacy.
Selected Exhibitions
1900 – Paris, Exposition Universelle
1907 – Algiers, Salon des Orientalistes Algériens
1922 – Algiers, Galerie du Vieux Chêne
1925 – Algiers, Salon des Humoristes; Paris, Exposition des Arts Décoratifs
1926 – Algiers, Union Artistique de l’Afrique du Nord
Works in Public Collections
Musée National des Beaux-Arts d’Alger – Médersa à Marrakech
C.A.O.M. (French Overseas Archives) – L’Hiver en Algérie
Herzig’s work remains highly collectible today, appreciated for its sensitive depictions of Algerian life, its historical relevance, and its connection to the early development of North African modern art..
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