Affiche voor de Salon des Cents 1896

Editor: So, this is Pierre Bonnard's 1896 lithograph poster, "Affiche pour le Salon des Cents." I’m really drawn to the sketchy, almost unfinished quality of the lines and the muted colors. It feels very intimate, yet also public as a poster. What do you see in it? Curator: Beyond the appealing aesthetics, I see a potent articulation of the burgeoning commercial art world and its entanglement with societal shifts. Bonnard's poster, designed to advertise the Salon des Cents, a prominent Parisian art exhibition, speaks volumes about the democratization of art during that era. Before, art was strictly something you could only enjoy if you went into a Gallery, so these pieces help to create a bigger audience. Editor: Democratization? How so? Curator: Well, posters like these, printed via lithography, were relatively inexpensive to produce, and they allowed art to bleed into the streets. They weren’t confined to elite galleries or private collections anymore, art becomes intertwined with the everyday lives of Parisians. Notice the female figure depicted, is she an aristocrat or of a certain standing, maybe bourgeoise? Editor: I hadn't thought about it like that. Her dress feels somewhat… modern, not overtly opulent, which helps it to make a greater appeal. Curator: Precisely. This piece is less about depicting someone of standing and status and is designed to appeal to everyone on the streets of Paris. And what about the little dog following at her feet? A playful detail for visual engagement, or also suggestive of domestic comforts newly available to the middle classes? Editor: I guess both? It's amazing how much social commentary can be packed into what initially seems like a simple poster! Curator: Absolutely! Analyzing the socio-political forces at play reveals a much deeper story embedded within Bonnard's seemingly simple aesthetic. Editor: I'll never look at posters the same way again. It’s a good reminder that even something seemingly trivial can tell you a lot about history and society.