From Les Affiches Illustrees (numbered edition of 1000 on
vellum paper - 1896)
This image shows Valentin and La Goulue from the tight confines of the
crowd on the floor, the whirl of the can-can and the anonymous
press of the viewers perfectly crystallized in his Japonist style.
Only Lautrec would show us the performer in this light, and have this
intimate and uncanny perspective.
At the close of the 19th century, poster art was a new and exciting
art form, and many popular images of the day were printed in
smaller versions for collectors. Miniatures such as this one were
printed to the highest standards, and are not offset prints, but true
plate lithographs using rich, dense lead inks.
Les Affiches Illustrees was published for the academic community
at the same time as the popular Maitres de l'Affiche and Das
Moderne Plakat series. The folio has many splendid images
not seen in the Maitres, including major works by Theophile
Steinlen (famous for his Chat Noir "Black Cat" poster), Mucha,
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Master of the Moulin Rouge and
Montmartre), Louis Rhead, Eugene Grasset, and American Art
Nouveau posterist Will Bradley.
Miniature posters generally sell for 10% of the value of their larger
counterparts. The full sized version of this poster is the most
desirable of all posters, and has consistently set the record for all
art posters, having reached $279,000 at its last public offering
years ago. This lithograph is priced considerably lower than
the typical 10% of the full sized poster price.
Item description provided by previous owner, Tom Negovan.
