Artist: Eugene Grasset Swiss (1841-1917)
Title: Jeanne d'Arc
Plate: PL. 174
Original lithograph from "Les Maitres de L'Affiche" series.
Printed by Imprimerie Chaix, Paris, 1899.
Presented in 16 x 20 in. acid free, archival museum mat, with framing labels. Ready to frame. Shipped boxed flat.
Certificate of Authenticity.
Maitre Sheet Size: approx 11 3/8 in x 15 3/4 in / 29 cm x 40 cm
Price: $175.00
Sarah Bernhardt's in the roll of 'Jeanne D'Arc'
"Grasset produced this poster for Sarah Bernhardt's production of 'Jeanne D'Arc' by Barbier, at the Porte Saint Martin Theatre. Madame Sarah is shown standing heroically, holding her banner aloft, defying the sea of arrows plunging towards her, while a sea of pikes points forward toward her. A finely decorative set of clouds bisects the background diagonally. The upright rectangular composition is framed with the words 'Jeanne D'Arc' and 'Sarah Bernhardt', in elaborate Gothic letters. The central figure's left foot bends down over the formal drawn ground. This poster was greatly admired by critics and public…Grasset's design is bold and striking. It could be used for stained glass. The outlines are strong and clear, the central figure a splendid example of the Grasset maiden". (Berthon & Grasset p.42)
"Grasset did much to introduce the concept and practice of Art Nouveau in France. In fact, Grasset brought Art Nouveau to the poster: it was to become a worldwide vehicle of the art of advertising. In France, Grasset was the pioneer of an attempt, like that of William Morris in England, to reconcile art and industry…Interested as he was in all the applied arts he came naturally to the poster" (Weill p.32)