Maitres De L'Affiche - Pl.27 Gismonda

Maîtres de l'Affiche (Masters of the Poster) refers to 256 color lithographic plates used to create an art publication during the Belle Époque in Paris, France. The collection, reproduced from the original works of ninety-seven artists in a smaller 11 x 15-inch format, was put together by Jules Chéret, the father of poster art and distributed between 1895 – 1900. The varied selection of prints was sold in packages of four and delivered monthly to subscribers. Designed for a subscription audience, the publication showcased the most influential posters of the era in a collectible small format.

Premiering in 1894 at the Theatre de La Renaissance, Gismonda, written by Victorien Sardou is a 4 act Greek melodrama which was directed and acted by Sarah Bernhardt. This rare poster created by Alphonse Mucha, otherwise known as the father of Art Nouveau, is the first poster of many that he created for Bernhardt. The image is a beautiful demonstration of Mucha’s romantic flair, eloquent portrayal of women and intricate detailing. The Byzantine costume illustrated in the poster is a reference to the costume worn by Bernhardt in the climax of the play where her character joins the Easter Procession.

Czech artist Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) liked drawing when he was a child, and at a young age started working as a theatrical scenery painter. In 1879, Mucha moved to Vienna to pursue this line of work, and soon after was sponsored to study at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. The artist moved to Paris in 1887 to continue his studies at Académie Julian and Académie Colarossi. He soon became popular in the French capital for his paintings, illustrations and designs for jewelry and wallpapers, among others. His style became known as Art Nouveau, French for "New Art". Mucha usually depicted beautiful women surrounded by flowers and Neoclassical inspired robes. Mucha created posters for many brands, for LU he also designed posters, wrappers and other printed objects.

This is an Original Vintage Poster, not a reproduction. This poster has been archivally backed onto linen and is in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.