Description
Wonderful Art Nouveau poster by the American artist William Bradley (1868-1962) from the famous French series of posters, Les Maîtres de l’Affiche.
Bradley had a singleness of purpose and an emphasis on the detailed ornamentation. He especially excels in giving his images a certain graphic rhythm, with the seeping curves and lines complementing and reinforcing each other until they create a composition that attracts and fascinates with an insistent pattern…Starting in 1894, Bradley began to design monthly covers for this Chicago based magazine for the printing trade, thereby making it one of the earliest publications to abandon the permanent cover, the custom of the day, in favour of variety. No doubt Bradley’s mastery of graphic arts contributed to the publishers decision. Rennert, PAI-XV, 147
‘Les Maîtres de l’Affiche‘ (The Masters of the Poster) published in 1895 – 1900, is one of the most prestigious and influential art publications in history. It features the most outstanding advertising posters of the 19th century.
This poster is from the series, Les Maitres de l’Affiche (The Masters of the Poster ) which took five years to produce from 1895 to1900.
It is one of the most prestigious and influential art publications in history. This series features the most outstanding posters of the late 19th century when the medium was only used for commercial advertising. During the 19th century the poster celebrated its golden era under the hands of famous artist such as, Cheret, Toulouse Lautrec, Mucha and Steinlen. They elevated the poster from a commercial medium to innovative art form. By the 1890s, the streets of every great metropolis were enlivened by large, colourful posters. The poster had not only caught the eye of the public, but it’s best examples were already being regarded as works of art, to be exhibited, reviewed in journals and collected.
In 1895, the Imprimerie Chaix firm published reduced chromolithographic versions of over 200 the best posters of the period by more than 90 great artists. This Chaix publication Les Maitres de l’Affiche, was issued as separate numbered lithographs, every month for 60 months from 1895 to 1900. Of the 97 artists represented all were prominent artists of the day. The lithograph was issued with an embossed seal at the lower right further signifying its authenticity.
From Chaix, Les Maîtres de l’Affiche. Paris
References:
Rennert, J. Master of the Posters 1896 – 1900. New York 1977 VIII, 1.
Dover publications, The Complete “Masters of the Poster. 2016 poster 11.
