Emmanuel POIRE known as CARAN D'ACHE (1858-1909) - Lot 354

Emmanuel POIRE known as CARAN D'ACHE (1858-1909) Set of three metal plaques featuring a camel and two women holding a bouquet. Height 42 cm, 53 cm and 59 cm. Le Chat Noir, founded in 1881 by châtelleraudais Rodolphe Salis, is an emblematic Montmartre cabaret, a veritable symbol of artistic and bohemian life at the end of the XIXᵉ century. Initially a simple drinking establishment at 84 boulevard Rochechouart, it soon became a rallying point for Parisian artists, writers and musicians, notably the Hydroapathes literary circle headed by Emile Goudeau, who made it his haunt. In response to its growing success, in 1885 it moved to 12 rue de Laval (now rue Victor-Massé), in a larger space able to accommodate an ever-growing audience. Salis installed an auditorium and a shadow theater, where performances went from being rare to regular to daily, making Le Chat Noir a mecca for Parisian artistic life. Artists such as Eugène Grasset and Alexandre Charpentier also contributed to the theater's décor. The colored plaster cat below is part of this decor. Shadow theater was one of Le Chat Noir's major innovations. Inspired by shadow puppetry, it consists of cut-out silhouettes animated on a backlit screen. The theater was created by Henri Rivière, who perfected the technique with sophisticated sets and mechanisms, giving life to highly original visual spectacles. These performances were a huge success, making the cabaret a fixture on the Parisian entertainment scene. At the same time, the Chat Noir launched a weekly revue under the direction of Salis and Émile Goudeau. This publication helped to promote the cabaret and featured works by major writers such as Paul Verlaine, Jean Richepin and Léon Bloy, illustrated by renowned artists including Théophile Alexandre Steinlen and Caran d'Ache. Despite its major influence on the Montmartre art scene, the cabaret closed its doors in 1897, two years after the death of Rodolphe Salis. However, its legacy lives on, notably through its iconic posters and its impact on Parisian culture. Provenance: LE CHAT NOIR shadow theater in Montmartre Widths: 7 cm, 11 cm and 43 cm. Oxidation and deformation.