ADRIEN BARRÈRE (1877-1931) TOUS Y MÈNENT LEURS ENFANTS! / CINÉMA PATHÉ. Circa 1909. 46 1/4x61 inches, 117 1/2x155 cm. Robert & Cie., Paris. Condition A / A-: minor creases in image; unobtrusive vertical and horizontal folds. At the beginning of the 20th century, Barrère was the foremost designer of posters for music halls and performers around Paris. At their simplest, his posters were basically enlarged caricatures. Powerful drawing, broad outlining and inventive layouts are among the main characteristics of his distinctive style. His first posters were for café-concerts and his style was so popular that he was called upon to help promote all of the major stars of that era. After the café-concerts were no longer in vogue, Barrère continued using his caricature style to help advertise silent movies, for Pathe Films and the Grand Guignol (a horror theatre in Paris). This rare, early movie poster shows the royal families of Europe bringing their children to the cinema to enjoy watching themselves on film. This political parody / celebrity endorsement is intended to promote the movies as good family entertainment for all. Present at this screening are Alphonse XII of Spain and his son, Edward VII (the Prince of Wales) and Leopold II of Belgium, French President Fallieres, Victor Emmanuel if Italy with his son Umberto and his daughter Yolande, and Tzar Nicolas II of Russia with his wife Alexandra and their son Alexis. L'Affiche de Cinema p. 20, Celebrites 151.
