VARIOUS ARTISTS LE RIRE / LE SOURIRE. Six bound volumes. 1896-1903. Each approximately 12x10 inches, 31x26 cm. Condition varies, generally A- / B+. Le Rire was the quintessential Parisian fin-de-siècle humor magazine. It was profusely illustrated with black and white and color illustrations by many of the great French poster artists such as Felix Vallotton, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Leonetto Cappiello, Adolphe Willette, J. L. Forain, Hermann-Paul and Steinlen. It was founded in 1894 by the publisher Felix Juven and the art critic Arsene Alexandre and became immensely popular. With a few interruptions the magazine was published through 1979. However, the first 10 years of its existence are the most artistically interesting. This group contains four volumes of Le Rire, 1896, 190, 1902 and 1903. Also two bound volumes Le Sourire from 1902 and 1903.
