Yvette Guilbert 1894

This advertisement for Yvette Guilbert was created by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, using lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion of oil and water. The image is made from a flat stone or metal plate on which the design is drawn with a greasy crayon. The stone is then treated with chemicals so that only the drawn areas will hold ink. It's a technique perfectly suited to capturing the energy of modern life, in this case the world of Parisian entertainment at the turn of the century. The choice of lithography, which enabled mass production, made art accessible to a broader audience. Its flat planes of color and bold lines also mirrored the aesthetics of the posters plastered throughout Paris. Steinlen here engages with the social currents of his time, using the techniques of commercial art to elevate a performer to celebrity status. By understanding the materials and techniques employed, we can appreciate how Steinlen blurred the boundaries between fine art and commercial design, reflecting the shifting cultural landscape of his era.