L'Illustration, No. 3663, 10 Mai 1913

The May 1913 issue bursts with the energy of a bustling Parisian spring. It opens with vivid reports of King Alfonso XIII’s arrival at the Bois de Boulogne, alongside a concise economic supplement, while the centerpiece celebrates the Salon’s double‑exhibition with more than 150 colour plates and two‑tone reproductions that capture the season’s most striking canvases. The editorial explains the massive effort required to assemble this kilogram‑heavy, 138 000‑copy run in just a week, a testament to the periodical’s dedication to timeliness and visual splendor.

Beyond the news, the issue offers a taste of the stage with “La Petite Illustration,” presenting excerpts from the newly staged comedies “Servir” and “La Chienne du roi,” performed by a celebrated troupe at the Sarah‑Bernhardt theatre. It also features a lyrical essay titled “La Fugue,” in which a wandering narrator revels in the intoxicating rush of spring, describing an almost palpable urge to escape, explore, and return again—all rendered in the same exuberant, poetic voice that invites listeners to share the moment’s fleeting joy.