Date: 1914
Size: 9.5 x 12.5
Notes: Poster, Small Poster, Carton
Artist: SEM/Goursat
Information: For more details, please call 514 656 3301
About The Poster: Music sheets like these were popular in Paris in the early 20th century. Artists like Misti, Ibels and Steinlen helped popularize the medium when they illustrated the famous "Paris en Chanson" series of music sheets in the 1890s. This particular booklet was for a piece by famous French chansonnier Felix Mayol (the handsome fellow depicted), named Cousine. According to Wikipedia, a piece entitled Cousine from 1918 is part of Mayol's filmography, hence our dating of this booklet to 1918. Wikipedia also writes: "Mayol was born in Toulon, France. His parents were both amateur singers and actors, who arranged for Felix to make his debut stage at six years of age. In 1895 he went to Paris and the Montparnasse Quarter where he began a career in entertainment that spanned more than forty years. He adopted a camp and effeminate manner on stage as part of his theatrical persona.[1] He sang the famous song "Viens poupoule, viens poupoule, viens...", and performed many songs by Théodore Botrel. In the early years of the 20th century some of Mayol's performances were captured by an early form of talking picture. He would record his voice, then the motion picture camera would film him as he lip-synced to the record. Several of his "Phono-Cinema" films exist." Mayol's portrait, characterized by the fluffy red-hair you see in this piece, was a comon image in French popular culture at the time. Another poster advertizing the singer as "le chanteur comique de Paris" was recently estimated to be worth between 2500 and 3000 (*Poster Auctions International, Feb. 13th 2011 Winter Sale). Needless to say, for lovers of pop culture, comedy, or history, this piece is quite collectible, AND affordable!
Signed SEM, which was renown artist Georges Goursat's pseudonym. "Sem’s unique talent made his work very identifiable, particularly because of the essential sobriety of his composition, in which his characters usually emerge from a white or plain background rather than being more obvious caricatures. His work is particularly associated with the Belle Epoque and, during this period, he wrote numerous articles chronicling theatre shows, fashion, travel and artistic reviews. He also created a number of very beautiful posters illustrating subjects like the clowns Footit and Chocolat, the tourist towns of Deauville, Cannes and Monte Carlo, and also a number of businesses including Benedictine." (The Virtual Absynthe Museum: http://www.oxygenee.com/absinthe/art8.html)
This piece is matted and framed. In excellent condition.