Folies-Bergère. Paola
c1890s. Colour lithograph, signed in image centre right, 80 x 61cm. Extensive surface abrasion, stains, creases and old repairs. Linen-backed.
A close portrait of the performer Paola fills the sheet beneath the name of the Folies-Bergère. Her face and dark hair are carefully modelled, while the veil, costume and surrounding ground are reduced to pale outlines and broad brown and ochre passages. The large black-and-white name at lower left and Alfred Choubrac’s signature at right survive amid extensive surface wear, creating a striking contrast between the direct gaze of the sitter and the distressed printed field. The layout belongs to Choubrac’s prolific work for Parisian music halls and identifies the entertainer through image, venue and a single name. It was intended as immediate celebrity advertising for the Folies-Bergère rather than as a detailed programme announcement.
Item #CL210-65
Price (AUD): $1,350.00 other currencies