Paris-Courses 1897

Jules Chéret created this lithographic poster, "Paris-Courses", to advertise the horse races at Hippodrome de la Porte Maillot. The viewer is immediately drawn into the dynamic scene of the races through the poster’s energetic composition and vibrant color palette. Notice how Chéret uses bold, contrasting colors like the fiery orange and cool grays to create a lively and engaging surface. The sinuous lines of the lettering, particularly "Paris Courses," visually mimic the movement and excitement of the race, blurring the line between text and image. The figure of the woman rider, elegantly poised, acts as a central focal point and is surrounded by a flurry of horses and riders, rendered with a fluid, almost dreamlike quality. This approach challenges the conventions of traditional advertising, turning a simple promotional image into a celebration of spectacle and movement. The poster's formal elements work together to create a sensory experience and capture the spirit of Parisian leisure and modernity. The tension and interplay between these elements leave much to be interpreted.