About the artist
Born into an impoverished but artistically inclined Parisian family in 1836, Jules Chéret embraced his love for art early, apprenticing with a lithographer at 13. Later, he studied art at the École Nationale de Dessin and immersed himself in British Art and photography in London from 1859 to 1866. His British sojourn significantly shaped his poster design style. Returning to France, Chéret's poster work, influenced by Rococo artists like Antoine Watteau, blossomed. His clientele ranged from theaters like Eldorado, Moulin Rouge, and Olympia to diverse businesses such as beverage and pharmaceutical companies. His bold portrayal of independent women in his work, known as Chérettes, bucked societal norms, earning him the moniker "Father of Women's Liberation". His impact on late 19th-century printing and poster design was pivotal.