Lourdes, 1914, 25th International Eucharistic Congress

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of early 20th-century poster with *Lourdes, 1914, 25th Eucharistic Congress* by Jean-Louis Forain, masterful color lithograph now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Prints and Drawings Department. Created in 1914, this imposing poster measures 88.3 × 117.8 cm and was printed on cream wove paper laid down on for durability. Forain, a French artist renowned for his incisive social commentary and dynamic lithography, captured the spiritual fervor of one of Catholicism's grandest gatherings. The poster promotes the 25th International Eucharistic Congress held in Lourdes, France—a pilgrimage site revered since the Virgin Mary's apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. These congresses, massive international events celebrating the Eucharist, drew hundreds of thousands amid growing pre-World War I tensions, blending devotion with national pride. Forain's bold composition likely evokes the site's miraculous springs and processions, using lithography's rich color layering to command attention on city streets. As a prime example of posters as public art, this work highlights lithography's role in mass communication, blending artistic flair with propaganda-like zeal. Its preservation on linen underscores its intended longevity, inviting us to reflect on faith's visual power in a turbulent era.