Jules Cheret is referred to as the father of the modern poster. He was a French painter who became a master of Belle Epoque poster art. Over the course of his long life, Cheret produced more than 1000 posters. His posters were light, cheerful oils and his pastels were upbeat and positive. His extravagantly colourful designs were used to regularly promote upcoming theatre productions, generated a devoted following and turned him into a household name.
I was recently browsing through one of my favourite graphic design books, “100 Ideas that Changed Graphic Design”. Idea No.10 is Female Archetypes, and her development as an idea is attributed to Jules Cheret. In an effort to further acquaint me with his work, I took myself to the Australian National Library – online, Google Arts and Culture and several other terrific resources.
Father of the Modern Poster
He initially considered possibly adapting art to general advertising by studying circus pictures. Cheret was first in his field, and there is a general consensus he developed this advertising medium. It is this sense of visual communication in his work that dominated his commercial work.
In the Casino de Paris, I enjoy how he used black so that the words appear to pop out of the poster. It is similar to a drop shadow effect used in the digital environment. He uses yellow and pastel to create friendliness and warmth, and a sense of fun with his posters. His headings and titles are often outlined in black, which creates a sense of hierarchy and contrast with his illustrations. He emphasises red in many of his posters, especially for concerts and plays.
His first piece of note he created in 1867 was a poster advertising “La Biche au Bois” (The Doe in the Wood) a fairy play. The printing style is very similar to the U.S Dollar Bill.
Apprentice Lithographer
Jules Cheret was born in Paris on May 31, 1836, into a family of artisans. His father was a typographer. At 13, he became an apprentice lithographer, but he was already interested in painting by regularly going to the Louvre to admire Rubens Fragonard and Watteau. It was shortly after completing his apprenticeship as a lithographer that he enrolled in courses at the National School of Design.
Developed Lithographic Technique
He was then employed as a designer and created lithographic labels for brochures and book covers. He left France for England in 1856 to learn new methods and techniques of colour lithography. He designed and printed notices for a popular London perfumer.
Back in Paris in 1866, he created his printing press to produce posters illustrated in colour. His posters were full of grace and gaiety and soon covered the walls of late nineteenth-century Paris.
An Inspiration for Commercial Art
His success was rapid; it was the creation of commercial posters that gave him his reputation. He inspired much of the commercial art of the time, book covers, avis de naissance (Birth notices), music titles, invitations and menus.
He used typographic techniques such as tracking and leading and would use San Serif Font styles for his headings. He used serif subheadings that were full and weighty with restrained flourishes.
In 1881, he sold his business and became artistic director of the Imprimerie Chaix, allowing him to devote himself more to his creative work: posters, drawings, and gouache-styled paintings.
A Study in Patience
His posters were unrushed, and their final state is the result of his ideas scratched in a scrawl, not unlike the mock-up process of a modern graphic designer. His ‘mock-ups’ used fusain, pencil, chalk, gouache and watercolours, and often he painstakingly created a version in each medium.
In 1889 he held his first exhibition and received a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle. He did not like the commercial spirit of fairs and exhibitions. His work as a painter and artist is not as widely known as his poster art.
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Design Store
Prints | Jules Cheret
Jules Cheret Aux Buttes Chaumont Jouets 1885 Vintage French Department Store Toy TV Show Ad Cool Wall Decor Art Print Poster 18x12
$11.99 (as of April 25, 2024 08:20 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Canvas Print Wall Art - Vintage Poster of American Dancer Loie Fuller by Jules Cheret - 32x48 inches
$94.99 (as of April 24, 2024 14:38 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - Paris France - Vintage French Advertising Poster by Jules Chéret c.1885 - Master Art Print (Unframed) 12in x 18in
$19.98 (as of April 25, 2024 08:20 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)ARTCANVAS The Song Of The Lark 1884 Canvas Art Print Stretched Framed Painting Picture Poster Giclee Wall Decor by Jules Breton - 26" x 18" (0.75" Deep)
$71.99 (as of April 24, 2024 14:38 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Folies-Bergère Paris - with American Dancer Loïe Fuller - Vintage Cabaret Casino Poster by Jules Cheret c.1900 - Fine Art Matte Paper Print (Unframed) 30x44in
$99.98 (as of April 25, 2024 08:20 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Jules Cheret Aux Buttes Chaumont Jouets 1885 Vintage French Department Store Toy Tv Show Ad Poster Canvas Print Wall Art Modern Room Living Room Bathroom Kitchen Bedroom Decor (24×36inch-No framed)
Posterazzi Purgatif Geraudel Poster Print by Jules Cheret, (10 x 20)
$16.20 (as of April 25, 2024 08:20 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Jules Cheret Aux Buttes Chaumont Jouets Poster Wall Art Canvas Print Picture Home Bedroom Decor Gift Frameless and Framed (Framed,24×32inch)
$100.99 (as of April 24, 2024 14:38 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Jules Cheret_Aux Buttes Chaumont Jouets Poster Art Canvas Painting Decor Wall Print Photo Gifts Home Modern Decoratives 24x36inch(60x90cm)
$99.00 (as of April 24, 2024 14:39 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Vin Mariani Vintage Ad Poster Jules Cheret France Canvas Art Poster And Wall Art Picture Printing Decor Modern Home Bedroom Living Room Office Classroom Decoration Posters (08×12inch-No Framed)
$11.00 (as of April 24, 2024 14:38 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Quinquina Dubonnet Poster Print by Jules Cheret (8 x 10)
$15.44 (as of April 24, 2024 14:38 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Posterazzi Vin Mariani/Popular French Tonic Wine Poster Print by Jules Cheret, (10 x 14)
$15.57 (as of April 24, 2024 14:33 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Jules Cheret Aux Buttes Chaumont Jouets 1885 Poster Modern Family Bedroom Office Background Wall Art HD Picture Canvas Printing Artwork Decor Posters (24×36inch-No Framed)
$35.00 (as of April 24, 2024 14:39 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)AP79 Vintage 1889 French Bal Au Moulin Rouge Place Blanche Jules Cheret Advertising Poster Re-Print - A2+ (610 x 432mm) 24" x 17"
$14.95 (as of April 24, 2024 14:33 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)ArtDirect Cheret, Jules 19x24 Black Modern Framed Art Print with Double Matting Titled: Allegory of Music I
$104.99 (as of April 24, 2024 14:38 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Jules Cheret - Portrait of Comedian Arlette Dorgere Painting by Jules Cheret Canvas Art Poster and Wall Art Picture Print Modern Family Bedroom Decor Posters 24x36inch(60x90cm)
$99.00 (as of April 24, 2024 14:38 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)More French Designer
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