50 French Franc Banknote


50 French Franc Banknote
Manuel Arroyo

          Issued in 1993, this particular 50 French franc banknote depicts famous French writer, poet, and pioneering pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. On one side of the banknote is a portrait of Saint-Exupéry along with a depiction of The Little Prince, a character from his famous book The Little Prince. Above the watermark is a simple drawing of an elephant swallowed by a boa constrictor, which is taken from The Little Prince. In the background is a world map of Europe and Africa. On the opposite side is an image of an airplane flying over a desert, presumably the Sahara, and another depiction of The Little Prince himself. This particular French banknote was later withdrawn from circulation in 2002.
            Visually, the banknote itself is fairly simple with a lack of intricate designs or bright colors. However, the banknote is an important, educational piece art, and it served more than just the purpose of being used as means of transactions.  The depictions of The Little Prince, Sain-Exupéry, and the planes serve as important representations of French culture and literature, and it is worth analyzing for those who are not familiar with the images on the banknote. What I find to be the most interesting about this and other French banknotes I have seen is that even though they are currency meant to be used for transactions, their purpose and utility transcends those uses when such images are incorporated into the banknotes. They become important depictions of the culture and history of France, highlighting important people and figures.



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