Chéret, Jules

(1836-1932)

   poster artist

   Born in Paris, Jules Chéret, as a designer, revolutionized the look of poster art. He began in 1855 by producing posters in black and white, then in three colors (Orphée aux Enfers, 1888). In London from 1859 to 1866, he studied the industrial processes of producing lithographs in several colors. His posters (more than a thousand) became part of the art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and are characterized by their vivacity, lightness, and effervescence (La Saxoléine, 1891). Whereas formerly, posters were literal and unimaginative, with the illustrations subordinate to the text, in Chéret's works, the illustrations are dominant and he departs from literal depiction. Specializing in theatrical posters, he portrayed can-can dancers and stage personalities with minimal use of text. Chéret's influence spread quickly and inspired such artist as henri de toulouse-lautrec and pierre bonnard.