JULES CHERET HIPPODROME / CADET ROUSSEL. 1882.

22 1/2x17 inches. Chaix, Paris.
Condition A. Faint offset printing visible in image.
This is one of the most popular posters of Cheret's early period. The writer J. K. Huysmans praised it highly, concluding that "among countless images in which he [Cheret] described laughter, none was more surprising." Ed. Sagot, when he offered the poster for sale in his 1891 catalogue, not only praised the work in writing, but also assigned to it the very high price of 20 francs! Cadet-Roussel, who was the character in a popular French song, was an eccentric, even crazy old man. Cheret depicted him riding a horse, with an outdated costume, a large smile and a huge red umbrella. The movement within the poster is impressive, and the powerful coloring, led by the invasive yellow, indicate that Cheret is reaching the maturity of his art. This is the smaller format, which was printed at the same time as the larger one. Broido, 401, Maindron 323.