Maitres De L'Affiche - Pl 34 Helle

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.

This poster, by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen, is advertising for "Helle" a tragic Greek opera that was performed at the Theatre National de l’Opera in Paris, France. The poster features a muted color theme with text on the bottom right side which reads Musique d’ Alphonse Duvernoy (Music by Alphonse Duvernoy) and Poeme de C. Du locle et Ch. Nuitter (Poetry by C. du Locle and Ch. Nuitter).

Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Theophile Alexandre Steinlen (1859 – 1923) was a prolific artist known for his Art Nouveau paintings and posters. Before gaining traction as an Art Nouveau artist, Steinlen studied design at the University of Lausanne and worked as a designer trainee at a textile mill in France. A lover of cats, one of Steinlen’s most iconic images is the Le Chat Noir, a club in Montmartre where Steinlen met artists Henri Matisse, Adolphe Willette, Felix Vallotton and Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. The works of Steinlein paintings were frequently displayed at the Salon des Indépendants and he worked for magazines such as Le Rire and Gil Blas. Today, his works can be found in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

This is an Original Vintage Poster, not a reproduction. This poster is on heavyweight paper and is in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.