Jules Chéret

(French, 1836-1932)

French painter, lithographer and graphic designer Jules Chéret was born in Paris on May 31, 1836. A master of Belle Époque style poster art, Chéret is known as the father of the modern poster.

Despite humble beginnings and limited education, Chéret was fortunate to belong to a family of highly creative artisans. He embarked on a three-year apprenticeship with a local lithographer beginning in 1849, and then pursued a painting course at École Nationale de Dessin. Most of his education came from studying artists at various museums in Paris.

Upon moving to London, England in 1859 to continue training in lithography, Chéret was introduced to the British style of poster design. When he returned to France in 1866, he began creating vibrant posters for famed theaters such as the Folies Bergère, Théâtre de l'Opéra and the Moulin Rouge. Influenced by Rococo artists Fragonard and Watteau, Baroque painter Tiepolo, and stylized Japanese prints, Chéret’s own style evolved from complex Victorian illustrations to more simplified form and vibrant color.

The appeal of the Belle Époque period was influenced by the joie de vivre of the post-war period between the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 and the beginning of World War I in 1914. Chéret’s works depict lively, joyous renditions of women who became known as Cherettes, as seen in Jeune Fille Dans Le Prairie (1900), La Farandole (1910), and on numerous posters. He was a prolific graphic artist, creating vibrant advertisements for cabarets, theaters, cosmetics, perfumes and more. His influence would soon be seen in the famed works of Toulouse-Lautrec.

Chéret was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1890 for his outstanding contributions to the graphic arts. In 1895, he published the Maîtres de l'Affiche featuring reproductions of artworks produced by 97 Parisian artists. He retired to the French Riviera, where he lived until age 96.