| Absinthe Posters IX - Chromolithographic Cartons |
| Designed to hang indoors, these smaller format chromolithographic posters, usually backed onto board, have a charm all their own. The most famous is the Charles Maire painting for Pernod Fils, but perhaps the most graphically striking is the 1894 Terminus calender. |
Based on a painting by Charles Maire (1845
- 1919), this ubiquitous print advertising
Pernod Fils once hung in almost every bar
and cafe in France.
Unusually, the chromolithograph was
backed on to canvas, and then varnished,
giving it the appearance of an original oil,
enhanced by the custom gilt-wood frame.
Both Picasso and Braque were inspired by
this image, using it as the basis of some of
the very earliest Cubist paintings.
- 1919), this ubiquitous print advertising
Pernod Fils once hung in almost every bar
and cafe in France.
Unusually, the chromolithograph was
backed on to canvas, and then varnished,
giving it the appearance of an original oil,
enhanced by the custom gilt-wood frame.
Both Picasso and Braque were inspired by
this image, using it as the basis of some of
the very earliest Cubist paintings.
At left, Picasso's
1912 "Bouteille de
Pernod et verre".
1912 "Bouteille de
Pernod et verre".
In a 1959 interview published in Paris Match, the French poet and artist Jean Cocteau talked
about his friendship with Picasso, and his visits to the artist's studio. He described how a
copy of this Pernod Fils chromolithograph had hung in Picasso's studio during the time he
was creating his early cubist masterpieces, and how Picasso had later given it to him as a
souvenir. This is not the only absinthe item that acted as inspiration for Picasso's art - click
here to read about the genesis of Picasso's celebrated 1914 sculpture "Verre d'Absinthe"
about his friendship with Picasso, and his visits to the artist's studio. He described how a
copy of this Pernod Fils chromolithograph had hung in Picasso's studio during the time he
was creating his early cubist masterpieces, and how Picasso had later given it to him as a
souvenir. This is not the only absinthe item that acted as inspiration for Picasso's art - click
here to read about the genesis of Picasso's celebrated 1914 sculpture "Verre d'Absinthe"
The so-called
"Pontarlier" style
reservoir glasses
take their name from
their appearance in
this picture.
"Pontarlier" style
reservoir glasses
take their name from
their appearance in
this picture.
Several rival manufacturers reworked Pernod's ubiquitous
design to feature their own products. The most successful
of these spin-offs was this charming image designed by
the Mourgue brothers for Absinthe Bourgeois, a mid-sized
Pontarlier producer.
The absinthe loving black cat became the symbol of the
company, and was produced in several carton and poster
formats, and also as a series of postcards.
This carton, still in it's original art nouveau style frame,
shows what is believed to the earliest version of the design.
Buy a print of this image from AllPosters or from our
CafePress store.
design to feature their own products. The most successful
of these spin-offs was this charming image designed by
the Mourgue brothers for Absinthe Bourgeois, a mid-sized
Pontarlier producer.
The absinthe loving black cat became the symbol of the
company, and was produced in several carton and poster
formats, and also as a series of postcards.
This carton, still in it's original art nouveau style frame,
shows what is believed to the earliest version of the design.
Buy a print of this image from AllPosters or from our
CafePress store.
The Absinthe Bourgeois label
assured consumers not only that
it was made entirely from herbal
matter (ie, without artificial
colouring), but also that it was
"sans badiane" - made with
green anise only, not star anise.
Click on the image to enlarge.
assured consumers not only that
it was made entirely from herbal
matter (ie, without artificial
colouring), but also that it was
"sans badiane" - made with
green anise only, not star anise.
Click on the image to enlarge.
An 1894 calender advertising Absinthe
Terminus. The gentleman in the red jacket is
the Absinthe Terminus drinker, his friend in
the black is drinking "Absinthe Ordinaire"!
Terminus. The gentleman in the red jacket is
the Absinthe Terminus drinker, his friend in
the black is drinking "Absinthe Ordinaire"!
| A smaller format version of Cappiello's famous poster for Absinthe Ducros. |
| Advertising carton for Absinthe Barth & Cie, based in Châlon-sur-Saône. 43 x 31cm. |
| Chromolithographic advertising cartons for Cousin Florentin, Dornier-Tuller and Lemercier-Duval. |
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Buy a print of this image from AllPosters or from our CafePress store.
Buy a print of this image from AllPosters or from our
CafePress store.
CafePress store.
Buy prints of these images from AllPosters or from our CafePress store.
Buy prints of these images from AllPosters or from our CafePress store.
| A previously unrecorded advertising carton for Royer Hutin Absinthe Suisse. |
Advertising carton for the Argentinean
producer Ajenjo Arbide.
Click on the images to enlarge.
producer Ajenjo Arbide.
Click on the images to enlarge.
| This exceptional advertising carton for JP Pernot has a background of stylized wormwood leaves. An original of this carton is currently available for sale. |