Studio: international art (1.1893)

The Collecting of Posters

be untrue to suggest that the rest are nowhere.
What indeed could be more admirable than the
elaborate mediaeval design by Grasset, which is
reproduced here, and what could be in more acute
contrast to the intensely modern work of Che'ret ?
It is an almost perfect example of the very detail
of the art in which Che'ret falls short, the introduc-
tion of the legend as an inherent part of the design.
The splendid horse and trumpeter are, it seems to
me, slightly reminiscent of Sir John Gilbert, whose
abilities are surely admirably adapted to the pro-
duction of the poster. Decidedly, this Grasset is
cheap at the ten francs asked for it. From Grasset
to Willette is a long step, for we pass at once from
the ancient heroic to the modern grotesque. In
Willette's work there is nearly always a tinge of
bitterness in spite of the delightful grace which
made his Enfci7it Prodigue poster so remarkable.
Cynical, tragic even at times, he never indulges in
the feverish gaiety which is Cheret's habitual mood.
His anti-Jewish placard (p. 60) is one of his most
characteristic works; the collector can procure it
for three and a half francs. M. Sagot's advertise-
ment by Valloton, reproduced on page 59, will serve
to illustrate another variety of work which may be

obtained without much difficulty. If an ancient
Greek would have found fault with it, it is none the
less a remarkable illustration of the amount of
character which can be introduced into a bit of
black and white of the simplest kind, and it makes
itself remembered in a way quite invaluable for the
purpose of an advertisement. It is only necessary
in conclusion to say that in addition to the artists
alluded to here, Choubrac," Caran d'Ache, Forain,
Vierge, and others of scarcely less distinction, have
produced designs which even the most fastidious
collector would not hesitate to place in his port-
folios. Surely the time is near when to the work
of these distinguished Frenchmen in the art of
the hoarding, we shall be able to add some works
by English aitists. If there be a grain of truth in
Mr. Ruskin's dictum that advertising is nowadays
the only living art, it is time we produced some
examples in England which would at least escape
universal derision. The illustrations which accom-
pany this article have been reproduced, by per-
mission, from the fully illustrated catalogue of
M. Ed. Sagot, which is an encyclopedia of informa-
tion on the subject.

Charles T. J. Hiatt.