Human Rights – Paul Davis (1989)

This original 1989 poster by Paul Davis was created for Images Internationales pour les Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen, an international series commissioned by Artis 89 in Paris to commemorate the bicentennial of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Titled “Human Rights,” the design features two hands reaching toward each other, symbolizing unity, compassion, and the shared humanity at the heart of the Declaration. Paul Davis, one of America’s most celebrated illustrators and poster artists, is known for his emotionally expressive compositions and painterly realism. His image distills the universal ideals of liberty and equality into a simple, powerful gesture that transcends language and culture.

Printed by Artis 89, this poster was part of a historic international collaboration bringing together 66 artists to visually interpret the meaning of human rights for the modern age.

Artist: Paul Davis
Title: Human Rights (Images Internationales pour les Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen)
Date: 1989
Printer / Publisher: Artis 89, Paris
Series: International Images for Human and Citizen’s Rights – Bicentennial of the Declaration
Print Type: Offset Lithograph
Dimensions: 33 × 24 in (84 × 60 cm)
Condition: Excellent “A” – Original issue
Country: France
Category: Human Rights / Commemorative Poster / 20th-Century Graphic Art

Comments:
Issued in 1989 as part of the Images Internationales pour les Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen series celebrating the bicentennial of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man. Paul Davis’s Human Rights design—two hands reaching toward one another—embodies the universal spirit of connection and empathy central to the Declaration. Original issue, not a reproduction.