Colette Mars

Composition is everything in this deceivingly complex image by Jean-Gabriel Domergue for chanteuse Colette Mars and her music label, Columbia Records. Colette stares down at us, her gaze fixed. Shoulders back, neck long, she is confident and alluring. She appears to us mid-performance, with her elegantly gloved arms outstretched, her hips moving and her scarf whipping around her neck. It is an elegant image with timeless appeal.

Colette Mars (1916 - 1995) was born Nicole Huot in Morocco. After emigrating to France, she began her career in the cabaret world of Paris. Mars’ career continuously evolved alongside the entertainment industry. By the late 1920s her songs were recorded by Columbia Records and she became well-known throughout France. She transitioned to a career in film by the mid 1930s, and was active in French films through the early 1970s.

Jean-Gabriel Domergue (1889 – 1962) created this poster circa 1930. The French painter often described as the "inventor of the pin up" was known for his long-necked and delicate rendering of women. Domergue lived and worked in Monte Carlo, which is in the Cote d’Azur. He rubbed elbows with high society, organized formal balls, designed fashion accessories and was somewhat of a local celebrity. His poster style was befitting of the upper-class luxuries he advertised. In 1955, Domergue was named curator of the Jacquemart-Andre Museum in Paris and later named a fellow of the Academy of Fine Arts.

This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.