A color plate from an exquisite book called Les Programmes Illustres, by Ernest Maindron, published in 1897, by Librairie Nilsson-Per Lamm, Paris purchased at auction, and filled with the most unbelievably detailed and remarkable works of art we have seen... granted we are biased and truly moved by works from this period, by truly, these are gems, in remarkable, mint condition, and more than 100 years old. The auction catalog reads: '' ''I often ask myself what they, the curious of the year 2000, will think of us, whom we are cut off from by a century of dreadful events; them, knowing that which we don''t yet know and that we nearly suspect, what will they say of our old frivolity with all that has passed? Won''t they pity us, like we today have pity for the aristocratic society whose ancient prints we refer to with carelessness and levity?'' Thus mused Pierre Veber in his prefacing comments for the Programmes Illustres, a hardcover compendium of some of the most beautiful menus, invitations, business cards and announcements of the Belle Epoque. Little could he have known how off the mark his thoughts were, as today we look back at the virtuosity these posterists displayed with the limited technology of the time.'' (Rennert) Each sheet is 9.25 x 12.5 inches, and the images on the sheet vary - this one by the famous Choubrac brothers is very typical of their somewhat goofy, ''lots-o-stuff-going-on'' kind of style (we have many other Choubrac pieces in the gallery - large size posters, etc. just ask. Of the Choubrac brothers we have written the ''Choubracs had a great deal of skill and their posters (we have a few others in the gallery) always exhibit a little goofiness, wackiness and just all-around silliness that we like and admire - just look at the facial expressions of the character in this circus scene. I don''t know who Brunin was, but I have to imagine this was some kind of traveling sideshow troupe that was popular in France and other countries in Europe at the turn of the century. These artists were one of the pioneers of French poster art: in 1884 when Maindron published his first article on posters, he listed only nine active posterists known to him, and included three poster artists whose work made up the first poster exhibition, held that same year in the Passage Vivienne in Paris: Alfred and leon Choubrac, and Jules Cheret. PLEASE NOTE: ALL OF OUR POSTERS ARE ORIGINAL, NON REPRODUCTION, VINTAGE PIECES. Status: For Sale Reference#: 1090618 Condition: A Year: 1897 Country: France Maker: Maindron Height: 8.5 in. (21.59 cm) Width: 5.5 in. (13.97 cm) Title: CHOUBRAC BROS. FOLIES CANOISES - 1897 - a little gem! Style: Art Nouveau/Liberty Materials: paper

Art (paintings, prints, frames)
Vintage Posters