PIERRE PUVIS DE CHAVANNE (1824-1898) CENTENAIRE DE LA LITHOGRAPHIE. 1895. 58 1/2x40 inches. Lemercier, Paris. Condition B+: restoration and repaired tears in top and bottom margins; unobtrusive vertical and horizontal folds. In 1895 a large exhibition was organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of lithography at the Galerie Rapp on the Champs de Mars. Four different artists were commissioned to design posters for the event. Two of the artists were poster artists, Hugo D'Alesi and Pal (who also designed the cover of the catalogue) and the other two artists were Maurou and Puvis de Chavannes who, at the time, was president of the Société des Beaux-Arts<>. Puvis de Chavannes was a classical, influential artist although at times he can be very hard to classify. At the beginning of his career his work was close to that of the Impressionists, but then became strongly influenced by the Italian Primitavist frescos from which his own, personal style emerged. For part of his career he specialized in gigantic murals for municipal buildings (including the Panthéon and the Paris City Hall) and Both Degas and the Nabis<> considered him to be a major influence on their work. For all these reasons this poster is a curiosity as well as a document, it is a classical allegory in pastel tones that has all the qualities of an oversized cabinet print! L'Affichomanie 23, Gold 182, Belle Epoque 283.
