Maitres de L'Affiche - Years 1896-1900

Size: 11 3/8 x 15 3/4 inches - Original Lithographs
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Rassenfosse
Grande Brasserie Van Velsen
Plate No.12
Date: 1896
Price: $150
Print Code: Pomai012

J.L. Forain
Salon du Cycle
Plate No.51
Date: 1897
Price: $250
Print Code: Pomai051

Puvis de Chavannes
L'Enfance de Sainte Genevieve
Plate No.54
Date: 1897
Price: $150
Print Code: Pomai054

Hynais
Exposition Ethnographique de Prague
Plate No.56
Date: 1897
Price: $150
Print Code: Pomai056

A. De Riquer
3ra Exposition de Bella Artes
Plate No.64
Date: 1897
Price: $450
Print Code: Pomai064

Otto Fischer
Ausstellung, Dresden, 1896
Plate No.68
Date: 1897
Price: $200
Print Code: Pomai068

Privat Livemont
Casino de Cabourg
Plate No.88
Date: 1897
Price: $500
Print Code: Pomai088

H.G. Ibels
Affiches Artistiques Pierrefort
Plate No.102
Date: 1898
Price: $450
Print Code: Pomai102

Emile Berchmans
Salon de 1896, a Liege
Plate No.108
Date: 1898
Price: $200
Print Code: Pomai108

Etienne Moreau-Nelaton
La Nativite
Plate No.118
Date: 1898
Price: $150
Print Code: Pomai118

Louis Anquetin
Marguerite Dufay
Plate No.150
Date: 1899
Price: $100
Print Code: Pomai150

Will Bradley
Victor Bycicles
Plate No.152
Date: 1899
Price: $375
Print Code: Pomai152

Henri Meunier
Cafe Rajah
Plate No.156
Date: 1899
Price: $600
Print Code: Pomai156

Joseph Rudolf Witzel
Deutsche Kanst und Dekoration
Plate No.164
Date: 1899
Price: $300
Print Code: Pomai164

Paul Berthon
Lecons de Violon
Plate No.175
Date: 1899
Price: $1200
Print Code: Pomai175

Georges Fay
Sardines Amieux
Plate No.183
Date: 1899
Price: $125
Print Code: Pomai183

Willette
Exposition Charlet
Plate No.194
Date: 1900
Price: $100
Print Code: Pomai194

Arpad Basch
Maison Kuhnee (Machines Agricoles)
Plate No.208
Date: 1900
Price: $300
Print Code: Pomai208

Louis Rhead
Morning Journal
Plate No.220
Date: 1900
Price: $600
Print Code: Pomai220

Jules Cheret
La Gomme
Plate No.225
Date: 1900
Price: $150
Print Code: Pomai225

Georges Fay
Syndicat Central Agriculteurs de France
Plate No.231
Date: 1900
Price: $200
Print Code: Pomai231

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec
La Chaine Simpson
Plate No.238
Date: 1900
Price: To request
Print Code: Pomai238

The "Les Maitres de l'Affiche" series was offered as a subscription series to collectors.
Every month for 60 months, from December 1895 through November 1900, subscribers received by mail, 4 loose sheets (Maitres) with a cover sheet. It was sold in Paris for 2.50 francs for one month's subscription, (4 Maitres) and for 27 francs for 12 months (48 maitres), plus special (bonus) plates. Maitre's were never issued in a book form, but a binding of the 12 months Maitres was offered to subscribers, at the end of the year, with a beautiful hardcover design by Paul Berthon for 8 Francs.

The "Maitres de l'Affiche," were issued as separate numbered sheets, referred to as "plates" (PL). They were numbered, with the printers name "Imprimerie Chaix," in the margin at the bottom left hand corner, "PL.1" to "PL.240." In the margin at the bottom right hand corner of each, is a blind embossed stamp from a design of Cheret's.
Each overall plate measures approximately 11 3/8 in. x 15 3/4 inches. (29 cm x 40 cm).

In addition to the 240 posters, Special plates (or bonus plates) were issued to subscribers.
There were a total of 16 Special plates, which were sent over the five years, each December, each June, and March and September of the final three years.
These were not posters, but unique original lithographs done exclusively for the "Maitres de l'Affiche" series.
Jules Cheret was the artistic director of the "Imprimerie Chaix. "He dominated the series, with one in every four Maitres by him, the first in each monthly instalment, and 7 of the Special plates, a total of 67. With over 1000 poster designs to his credit, his large representation in the series is justified, although some critics have pointed out that, as the artistic director, he may have been biased towards selecting his own work.
"Of the other 96 artists represented in "Les Maitres de l'Affiche, some were pre-eminent painters and printmakers at various stages of their careers: Toulouse-Lautrec, Denis, Bonnard. Others were famous illustrators and cartoonists of the period, still well known to art collectors, including Forain, Caran d'Ache, Ibels, Boutet de Monvel, Leandre.
But there were also all those whose names say 'poster,' the conquering pioneers of the new medium including, Cheret himself, Mucha, Steinlen, Beggarstaffs, Grasset, Penfield, Parrish, Bradley, hardy… the list could go on and on." (Appelbaum p.iii)