JULES CHERET (1836-1932) GRAND MAGASINS DU LOUVRE. 1896. 48 1/2x33 1/4 inches. Chaix, Paris. Condition B: repaired tears and minor losses in margins; vertical and horizontal folds; affixed to thick paper; darkened at top. The department store Grand Magasins du Louvre was located on the Palais Royal, on the spot that is currently the Grand Hotel du Louvre. The store was famous for its toy department, and at Christmas, was renowned for having the best window displays in Paris. This poster is a merry cascade of recognizable dolls, featuring a Pierrot, Punch and Colombine. Inspired by the frescoes of Tiepolo, Cheret was very fond of using this system of laying out his posters, in which characters seemed to just be falling from the sky. Broido 674, DFP-II 257.
