Pantomimes Lumineuses, Theatre Optique de E.Reynaud.

“Emille Reynaud (1844-1918), whose ‘Theatre Optique’ (Optical Theatre) produced this show (titled ‘Pantomimes of Light’) at the Musee Grevin, was a science teacher who combined a primitive peephole viewing apparatus with a projector, and came up with animated strips of celluloid pictures in colour, coming as close to inventing movies as anyone could. He even used perforation to advance the images. After obtaining a patent in 1889, he put on his first public show at the Musee Grevin on October 28, 1892. Between then and 1900, there were 12,800 performances attended by more than 500,000 customers. However, Mr. Reynaud brooded over the fact that by then, regular motion pictures, perfected by others, left him in virtual obscurity. One day in 1900, he took all his apparatus and slides and tossed them into the river Seine. Eighteen years later, he died in a sanatorium, entirely forgotten by the world” 

Reference: Wine Spectator, 8

This poster is from 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.

The lithograph was issued with an embossed seal at the lower right further signifying its authenticity.