66

Abel Faivre

1867-1945

Sports d'Hiver Chamonix. 1905.

Condition A- / B+: replaced loss at right margin and in upper left corner, affecting text; repaired tear at top left edge, into text.

Abel Faivre had a long and successful career as an illustrator and caricaturist. This is by far the most famous of the few posters he designed. The exquisitely-rendered image does justice to the early ski equipment (when skiers used just one pole for balance and turning), while posing a host of questions regarding the garb of early skiers. As a historical document, the image transcends poster art and has lodged itself into the international consciousness as one of the earliest and finest European ski posters. Chamonix was one of the first, and the most popular ski resorts in Europe, and was host to the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924.

Sports d'Hiver p. 20, Hillion p. 197, Voyage p. 72, Maitres 1900 p. 76, Gold 133.
42¾x30¾ inches, 108½x78 cm. J. Barreau, Paris.

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May 21, 2026 12:00 PM EDT
New York, NY, US

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