La Bodiniere - Les Maitre de l'Affiche - 1900

Cheret poster reading La Bodiniere, 18 rue St-Lazare; nightly at 8:30; 'The March in the Sunshine,' shadow-theater epic play on the Marchand mission [which crossed Central Africa in 1897-98 to confront the British at Fashoda]; text in verse by Leon Durocher, music by G. Fragerolle; performed by the writers; documents compiled by Mr. Chardin. 1900. - Jules Cheret (French; 1836-1932) Leading lithographer; set up his own shop, specializing in posters, in 1866 (in 1881 this shop became part of the Imprimerie Chaix, publishers of Les Maitres de l'Affice); after selling shop, continued doing commercial graphics, but also painting, tapestry cartoons, etc.; combining rococo grace and modern Parisian elegance, created a true poster style (rather than imitation of oil paintings); first major poster artist to draw directly on lithographic stone.