?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 6,000 - $ 9,000
SARAH BERNHARDT / AMERICAN TOUR. 1895. 793/4x30 inches. Strobridge, Cincinnati. Condition A-: minor paper loss and discoloration in margins. Two sheets, unattached. Paper. Mucha's design for Gismonda had become emblematic of the Art Nouveau movement as well as of Sarah Berhardt herself. When she toured the United States in 1896 (she had made nine tours since 1881, and each time she was greeted like a super star) she decided to bring this image with her, changing only the typography: adding her name to the top of the image, and the words "American Tour," as well as the producers across the bottom. The poster was printed by the great American lithography company Strobridge, who specialized in high quality lithographs for theaters and circuses from the mid 19th century. Paul Jones, their art director had traveled to Paris, and possibly even met Mucha while there. Jones did his best to match the sophistication of the French lithographers. The result is an excellent triumph of American printing that rises far above the norm for that period. Rennert/Weill 3 var 2, Lendl p. 25 no. 13, Grand Palais A4.
