Cadet Roussel

‘Cheret uses humorous line and exaggerates many angles to evoke the madcap style of this equestrian comic and mime. Dressed as a dandy, Roussel performed with a bicorn hat and red umbrella. Even when he became too old to ride these props where his trademarks. A poster by Cappiello done almost 25 years later shows Roussel minus horse but still in the same costume and comic as ever’. (Rennert, PAI-XXII, 277)

The series, Les Maitres de l’Affiche (The Masters of the Poster ) took five years to produce from 1895 to1900.

It is one of the most prestigious and influential art publications in history. This series features the most outstanding posters of the late 19th century when the medium  was only used for commercial advertising.  During the 19th century the poster celebrated its golden era under the hands of famous artist such as, Cheret, Toulouse Lautrec, Mucha and Steinlen. They elevated the poster from a commercial medium to innovative art form. By  the 1890s, the streets of every great metropolis were enlivened  by large, colourful posters. The poster had not only caught the eye of the public, but it’s best examples were already being regarded as works of art, to be exhibited, reviewed in journals and collected. 

In  1895, the Imprimerie Chaix firm published reduced chromolithographic versions of over 200 the best posters of the period by more than 90 great artists. This Chaix publication Les Maitres de l’Affiche, was issued as separate numbered lithographs, every month for 60 months from 1895 to 1900.

Of the 97 artists represented all were prominent artists of the day.

Each lithograph was issued with an embossed seal at the lower right marking its authenticity.