La Belle au bois dormant 1894

Editor: Here we have "La Belle au Bois Dormant," a poster by Edward Burne-Jones from 1894. It seems to advertise a performance, possibly a play. The typography and overall design give it a distinctly late 19th-century feel. What can you tell us about its significance? Curator: Well, considering Burne-Jones's broader career and the cultural context, it is important to understand L’Oeuvre as a theater interested in modern drama and innovative staging, in response to commercial theatre. Burne-Jones involvement signals the perceived prestige of visual artists in theatrical design, elevating it beyond mere decoration. What Shakespeare quote is featured? What impact might the choice of Shakespeare have? Editor: It reads "Mourir...dormir...rêver peut-être," from Hamlet. The play's association provides immediate cultural gravitas, wouldn't you say? A layer of legitimacy and classical sensibility to the overall avant-garde theatre, perhaps? Curator: Exactly. Notice how the poster emphasizes costume design, attributing it to both Burne-Jones and Rochegrosse. This highlights the growing importance of stagecraft in theatrical productions and how the costume design borrows heavily from earlier interpretations and fairy-tale archetypes. Editor: That is an important component to consider! It's fascinating how this single poster manages to touch upon anxieties regarding cultural legitimization, while pointing toward shifting creative hierarchies within the fin-de-siècle Parisian theatre world. Curator: Precisely. Seeing how elements beyond painting contribute to the theatrical space helps us appreciate the broader socio-cultural context of visual production at the time. Editor: I've never thought about theatre posters as such densely layered objects, but your insights reveal the poster to have significant historic resonance beyond a piece of memorabilia for what was staging at that time. Thank you!