L'Illustration, No. 3692, 29 Novembre 1913

A vivid snapshot of pre‑war France, this 1913 Christmas issue of a celebrated illustrated weekly invites listeners into a world of cultural ambition and meticulous craftsmanship. The edition opens with a theatrical one‑act, a modest mystery that sets a light, entertaining tone before moving to a compact economic supplement and a striking report on French naval schools in Adana.

The heart of the issue lies in its extraordinary production: hundreds of thousands of copies assembled by hundreds of women, countless gravures, and a lavishly illustrated study of the newly opened Jacquemart‑André Museum, featuring rare masterpieces from private collections. Listeners will hear vivid descriptions of the massive printing operation, the soaring demand across Europe and America, and the magazine’s role as a seasonal artistic event, all narrated with the careful detail that brings a bygone era to life.