La belle époque de Jules Chéret: De l'affiche au décor

Review of the exhibition 'La belle époque de Jules Chéret: De l'affiche au décor' held at Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris (23 June-7 Nov. 2010), Museum Villa Stuck in Munich (10 Nov. 2011-4 Feb. 2012) and Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi, France (Spring 2012). Also, review of the exhibition catalogue 'La belle époque de Jules Chéret: De l'affiche au décor' edited by Réjane Bargiel and Ségolène Le Men (Paris: Les Arts Décoratifs/Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2010). Exhibition presenting the posters and interior decoration of the French designer Jules Chéret (1836-1932). The display is divided into two sections: part one concentrates on Chéret's posters and other printed material; and part two examines the unity between Chéret's posters and his interior decoration schemes, completed from 1892 onwards. The catalogue provides an expanded catalogue raisonné of Chéret's posters, attributing 1430 works to him, with around 90% illustrated. An introductory essay offers a historical overview of Chéret, whilst the later essays investigate his interior designs, early work, his posters' role in modern society, and the support of the critics Roger Marx and Gustave Kahn for poster art. Review concludes that the catalogue not only aids understanding of Chéret's work, but also the art and design of the Third Empire, technological developments in printing, and the era's commerce and social life. (Quotes from original text)