Jules Chéret
French Poster Maker
(May 31, 1836 - September 23, 1932)

Jules Chéret was a French graphic artist who became a master of poster art. His work colored the streets of Paris during the Belle Epoque. His success gave birth to a new industry and inspired a generation of young artists to create splendid graphic designs. He is popularly known as the "father of the modern poster."

Chéret was born into a poor family of artisans. His father, a typographer, placed him abroad in an apprenticeship with a London lithographer. There he fell under the influence of British poster design print making techniques. He combine this knowledge with a year's training in art at the Ecole Nationale de Dessin. As a result, his posters relied strongly on graphic imagery. Text was suppressed and relegated to a supporting role. An illiterate could gaze at a poster and know there were dancing girls in the hall for whom he advertised.

Chéret's unique design and unparralled use of color gained him international fame. He developed a following among young artists drawn to the new media. Among them was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who pushed the media even further. Hermann-Paul's posters from the 1890s demonstrate the profound influence of both Chéret and Lautrec.