Survey 6 Dreams and Designers (1895-1905)

Jules Cheret: The man behind the OG Poster girls!

The Father of Modern Posters: Jules Cheret, pioneer of representing female freedom and revolutionizing modern design.

Jules Cheret, is a French illustrator and graphic designer, of the 1800s, he was coined “The Father of Modern Posters”. His artworks influenced the predominant designs and advertisements for the 1900s. And is also considered one of the pioneers to change the portrayal of women. He was inspired by Rococo artists such as, Jean-Honore Fragonard, who often painted jovial women and themes of frivolity, and it is evident with many of the posters he designed. He created posters often representing women with full of energy and livelihood.

Both these ladies in pink dresses have a striking resemblance but are very unique in their own style. Fragonard’s painting of “The Swing” has very soft and tender brushstrokes. The woman could be seen as dainty or delicate. Whereas Jules Cheret’s woman on the left looks wild and free, having fun with herself. By the looks of her exposed chest and legs indicates that it is more provocative, but she unashamed and celebrates anyways.

“The Swing” by Jean-Honore Fragonard (Rococo Artist)

“Olympia” by Jules Cheret

Jules Cheret’s posters inspired the culture for female freedom and empowerment:

Jules Cheret impacted the culture of Female Freedoms. His designs usually displayed bold and beautiful women full of life surrounded with vibrant, dramatic colors. These posters were known to be a catalyst for female emancipation. Meaning that women were free from social limitations and traditions. Jules Cheret was able to capture a woman breaking the social norms of the 1800s. Because it was unaccustomed seeing a woman so free-living and confident in her own body.

“Moulin Rouge” by Jules Cheret

Right Side :”Moulin Rouge” by Jules Cheret

He Was A man of emotions!

Jules Cheret would always convey the emotions rather than the product of his Poster designs:

Cheret’s Design also played a pivotal role in changing the concepts of advertisement. His advertisement designs were aimed to capture the emotion and energy of the individual rather than the functionality product. This was crucial in elevating advertisements to an art form. Cheret was a prolific poster designer, by the end of his career he produced over 1000 posters. In 1890 he was awarded by the French government for his outstanding graphic designs. He was hired to advertise various objects from hats, bicycles, soaps, lamp oil, cough drops, events etc.

He was able to convey simple objects by enhancing them with a new personality with his techniques of vivid rich colors, typography, and composition. And most often an expressive woman was at the forefront or center to entertain the advertisement. Cheret’s methods were innovative in the advertisement world, inspiring a whole new generation of designers, and poster makers. It played a predominant role in the effects of selling a product, which spanned from the 1900s to what remains in modern-day advertisements.

He’s also an OG Graphic Designer

He pioneered poster design, and inspired many designers of the following century. However his distinctive style can be seen as free-flowing and experimental, which is probably because he mostly conveyed emotions in his advertisements, rather than having objective delivery. And it seemed like there were no strict rules for visual communication and design during that time.Reynold Brown’s poster from 1958 conveys the same subject, which is more compositional, and the text is aligned, by that time design became more developed for the viewer’s eye. But his work is most likely accredited to Jules Cheret’s work.