Jules Chéret (born May 31, 1836, Paris, France—died September 23, 1932, Nice) was a skilled French poster illustrator and graphic designer, earning him the title of “the father of the modern poster.”
After completing an apprenticeship in lithography in 1849 and honing his drawing skills, Chéret received his first major commission in 1858 for Jacques Offenbach’s operetta Orpheus in the Underworld. From 1859 to 1866, he continued to create posters and book jackets in London, and also designed packages for perfume manufacturer Eugène Rimmel. With Rimmel’s support, Chéret opened his own lithography firm in Paris in 1866.
This move allowed Chéret to maintain full artistic control and develop a revolutionary approach to design. Unlike most lithographers at the time who had artists create designs that were then copied onto a stone by skilled craftsman, Chéret worked directly on the stone. He used bold brushstrokes, crosshatching, stippling, and watercolor-like washes to create dynamic images. Over time, his style shifted from the intricate decorations of the Victorian era to a more dynamic style, characterized by central figures, hand-lettered titles, simplified backgrounds, and vibrant colors and textures. Chéret drew inspiration from various sources, including the whimsical romances of Rococo painters Antoine Watteau and Jean-Honoré Fragonard, the intense compositions of Baroque painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and the flat colors and stylized lines of Japanese woodblock prints.
Widely recognized as “the father of the modern poster,” Chéret’s influence on the medium continues to be felt today. In this rewritten text, we see a skilled French poster illustrator and graphic designer, known for his innovative approach to design, and admired for his use of unique artistic influences and techniques.
In 1890, the French government bestowed upon Chéret the Legion of Honour, commending his contributions to the progression of printing and his aid to the world of commerce and industry through the creation of a unique art form. Throughout his illustrious career, Chéret crafted over a thousand posters promoting music halls, theaters, artists, and various products such as drinks, medicines, and lamp oil. His influence extended to a distinguished group of graphic designers and artists, including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha, who were inspired by his groundbreaking work.
www.ftn-books.com has a title om Cheret available/
