The Dance (sold with 197, 201 & 205)

This is one of the series of four decorative posters, entitled &quotThe Arts&quot. This is the first, simply entitled &quotThe Pantomime&quot. For the others, see PL.197, PL.201, PL.205. &quotMaindron makes it clear that it was Cheret who invented ‘placards decoratifs’&#8230there is nothing to say about these designs other that they are perfect&quot(pp.178-79). Abdy calls these four decorative panels &quottriumphs of colour and printing&quot (p.31). Being freed in them from having to sell a product, Cheret let his imagination soar- and these light-footed nymphs are the first clear examples of what was to adorn the walls of Paris for the next decade the unabashedly hedonistic, carefree spirits that became known as ‘Cherettes’&quot (Rennert, PAI-XXVI, 262A)