PAUL COLIN (1892-1986) KATHERINE DUNHAM. 1949. 58 3/4x38 1/2 inches, 149x97 3/4 cm. Condition B+ / B: creases and abrasions in image; repaired tears at edges; paper is separating from linen at corners; pin-holes in corners. Katherine Dunham toured the world as a dancer continuously from 1945 to 1961. During those years she performed in Paris on four separate occasions; 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1953. Colin designed three posters for Dunham of which this is considered to be the rarest. Although previously undated, we know the poster is from 1949 based on a February 11, 1949 New York Times notice written by Art Buchwald, "The Theatre National Palais de Chaillot . . . will be the setting of Katherine Dunham's return visit to Paris. The dancer and her troupe have made a successful tour of Europe and will open at the Palais, February 17, for a three week engagement." On January 9, 1953, the same theatre was home to the Parisian premiere of her seminal work "Southland." Colin's other two posters for Dunham are accomplished with more of a free-handed drawing style, but this image presents Dunham with the full respect of Colin's talents affording her the same graphic privileges of other Parisian performers who Colin favored. He utilizes one of his favorite devices, the flat tones of the background split into two different shades along a diagonal line. His play with light and shadow, and the whiteness of the inside of the dancer's dress, focus the viewer's attention on her legs.
