As the author shows, throughout the First World War (1914-1918), millions of postcards were produced by the governments of the countries involved in the conflict. They were illustrated with images that constructed a narrative whose aim was to encourage the continuation of the war effort, both at the front and in the rear, as evidenced here through a reflection that focuses on French postcards from the period. By contrasting the visual messages printed on the postcards with those handwritten by their senders, the work seeks to highlight different forms of expression and perceptions of the conflict, as employed by civilians and military personnel at different points in its development.