Cabaret Culture
In 1881, a man by the name of Rodolphe Stalis opened up an entertainment establishment in a bohemian district called Montmartre, just outside of Paris, France. Little did he know that this seemingly minuscule theatre would eventually become one of the most popular and recognizable establishments.
Upon founding his business, Stalis decided to call the nightclub Le Chat Noir or ‘The Black Cat’ in English. Apparently, the reason behind this is because he simply came across a black cat while the nightclub was under construction, however, I like to think that there is much more to the story. Maybe he associated the black cat with evil, dark magic, foreshadowing the emergence of the nightclub as the first ever provocative cabaret in Paris.
In Le Chat Noir, guests would sit at tables drinking alcoholic beverages and watching various artists perform on stage as a form of entertainment. Anyone from actors, singers, musicians, and even poets could perform. The cabaret was a loud and sometimes rowdy setting, however, it gained more and more popularity, and was eventually deemed the heart of artistic life in Paris. Le Chat Noir stayed open until 1897, making it the centre of nightlife for just over 15 years.
The Mind Behind the Design
The Cabaret wasn’t popularized all on its own, though. Like all establishments, advertisements were needed in order to spread the word. Lucky for Stalis, Le Chat Noir’s poster design done by Theophile Steinlin became one of the most recognizable posters in Paris and is still very well known to this day.
Steinlin designed the poster with emphasis on the entertainment aspect of the cabaret. The text translates to: ‘Coming Soon, Rodolphe Stalis’ Le Chat Noir on Tour”. Steinlin printed the poster using colour lithography, and features, of course, a black cat, which was a popular subject in a number of his works. This cat in particular, however, has a bit of a mischievous look on its face, which adds to my theory about black cats and dark magic. Steinlin also decided to use the colour red to emphasize certain areas of the poster, like the text, for example. The intricate halo design behind the cat’s head, however, is a subtle nod towards a fellow poster designer by the name of Alphone Mucha, who featured images of women with circular halos behind their heads.
Sources: “Le Chat Noir.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Nov. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Chat_Noir. Ugc. “Le Chat Noir Collection.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 13 Feb. 2018, www.atlasobscura.com/places/le-chat-noir-collection. Westologist, The. “The Black French Cat.” The Westologist, www.thewestologist.com/ideas/the-black-french-cat. Images: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Chat_Noir https://pariswonders.com/page/3/