Maîtres de l’Affiche 1899

Jules Chéret created this drawing, "Maîtres de l’Affiche", as part of a series of posters celebrating the art of poster design. The piece evokes the Belle Époque in France, a period marked by optimism, peace, and burgeoning artistic expression. It was also a time when women's roles were slowly beginning to evolve, though still largely confined by societal expectations. Here, we see a woman, seemingly a performer, confidently strumming a mandolin. Her ornate dress and flamboyant hat speak to the theatricality of the era, yet there's also a sense of her asserting herself through her music. Is she merely an object of visual pleasure, or is there a deeper narrative of female agency being woven here? Chéret, known for his depictions of women, often blurred the lines between admiration and objectification. This piece invites us to reflect on the complexities of representing women in art. Is he celebrating the 'new woman' or perpetuating established archetypes?