Affiche voor Le livre de Magda door Armand Silvestre 1898

Paul Berthon created this poster for Armand Silvestre's book "Le livre de Magda," using lithography, in France. Berthon's image offers a window into the world of Parisian literary culture. We can see the symbolic language of the Art Nouveau movement that was popular at the time. Take note of the stylized lines and flowing forms of the woman's hair that blend with the foliage and the birds. It suggests an idealized and sensual vision of womanhood that was popular at the time. Berthon's poster reveals a complex social landscape in which artists sought to create visually striking works, while also engaging with the dominant trends and tropes. Investigating periodicals, literary sources, and exhibition reviews from the time can reveal a lot about the artistic and cultural context in which this poster was made.