Cigale, Théâtre de l’Opera-Comique (1904) by Maurice Leloir – Original French Lithographic Poster printed by Devambez

Cigale, Theatre de l’Opera-Comique
Artist: Maurice Leloir
Date: 1904

In this elegant 1904 poster for the French ballet Cigale, artist Maurice Leloir captures the frigid fate of one of the story’s central figures with remarkable sensitivity. The ballet, written by Henri Cain and set to music by the celebrated composer Jules Massenet, was performed at the Théâtre de l’Opéra-Comique in Paris. Leloir’s lithograph was printed by Imp. Devambez, one of the foremost Parisian art printers of the early 20th century. The poster announced the première of Massenet’s Cigale—a divertissement-ballet evoking the poetic melancholy and grace typical of fin-de-siècle French theater.

Details
Artist: Maurice Leloir
Title: Cigale – Divertissement-Ballet de Henri Cain. Musique de J. Massenet
Date: 1904
Printer: Imp. Devambez, Paris
Theater: Théâtre de l’Opéra-Comique, Paris
Size: 35  × 22 ¼ in (90 × 56 cm)
Print Type: Stone Lithograph
Condition: Nice Condition overall
Comments: Poster for the première of Jules Massenet’s Cigale, composed by one of the most popular French composers of his time.