Reclamebiljet voor een plattegrond van Parijs 1889

Curator: Oh, my, that poster positively vibrates with Parisian whimsy. Joseph Apoux created this promotional print for a "Plan-Commode," a handy map of Paris, back in 1889. Editor: Right? I can practically smell the freshly baked bread and hear the accordion music just looking at it. The figure's so… dapper! Yet utterly absurd with that haphazard turban. Curator: Notice how Apoux highlights the price and availability - a key part of the advertisement, and an insight into the expanding culture of tourism in late 19th-century Paris with this commodification of city navigation. Editor: It's interesting seeing the art nouveau influences blending with the caricature. It's a lighthearted illustration of wayfinding in Paris; look at that gleam in his eye as he displays his map! Curator: Absolutely! It seems designed for quick reproduction, judging by the simple lines of the lithograph; a cost-effective method perfect for promotional materials distributed widely through bookstores and newsstands. It would need to be quickly read, and easily digested by its intended consumer. Editor: Makes you wonder how many of these wound up crumpled at the bottom of travel bags, though! The fleeting, almost throwaway nature of the piece is what makes it so charming. It's a visual wink. Curator: Consider also how the work straddles that tricky line between "high" art and commercial ephemera, a sign of changing perceptions and values at that time. Art no longer remained a function confined solely to the galleries and private collections of the bourgeoisie. Editor: Exactly! Plus, it's just… fun. This Apoux character certainly understood how to tickle the Parisian funny bone while helping them find their way! It makes you want to ditch the GPS and wander, map in hand, lost on purpose. Curator: Well said, this poster allows a glimpse into the Parisian world. Editor: Absolutely, its commercial purpose only heightens the personal experience with art.