Paul Colin 1892–1985 La Revue Black Birds / Moulin Rouge (Exceptionally rare vintage poster)
Caption Brief: "While this poster (the only known copy) for The Blackbird Revue's appearance at the Moulin Rouge is something of a return to the African-American caricature Colin used in the 1925 La Revue Nègre poster, which created a sensation with Parisian passersby, here he shows artistic growth beyond the exaggerated showmanship of the 1925 work. Whereas the earlier poster relied almost exclusively on minstrel-show motifs, this Jazz Age masterwork incorporates elements of cubism and abstraction. Its characters—Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949), unsung diva Adelaide Hall (1901-1993), and celebrated vaudevillian Tim Moore (1887-1958)—create a memorable Art Deco trio. The poster's stunning combination of hot colors and extreme angularity is remarkable, and while the name of the venue (which means 'red windmill' in English) is written at the top, Colin takes it one step further by placing the Moulin Rouge at the "heart" of the matter" (The Art Deco Poster, Crouse, p. 156).
1929
62 h × 45 w in (157 × 114 cm)
Hachard et Cie., Paris
Provenance: The Chassaing Collection of French Art Deco Posters | Swann Auction Galleries, New York, The Chassaing Collection of French Art Deco Posters, 2 October 2003, Lot 44 | Collection of William Crouse
Exhibited: Art Deco: Commercializing the Avant-Garde, 28 September 2023 - 25 February 2024, Poster House, New York
Condition: Cond A-: with minor tears, repaired corners, touched-up small losses, and pinpoints of foxing. Work has not been examined out of frame but is fully visible. Framed behind acrylic measuring 68.5 × 51.375 × 1.5 inches.
Literature: The Art Deco Poster, Crouse, pp. 156-157; Rennert/Weill no. 18, p. 33 (var)
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Caption Brief: "While this poster (the only known copy) for The Blackbird Revue's appearance at the Moulin Rouge is something of a return to the African-American caricature Colin used in the 1925 La Revue Nègre poster, which created a sensation with Parisian passersby, here he shows artistic growth beyond the exaggerated showmanship of the 1925 work. Whereas the earlier poster relied almost exclusively on minstrel-show motifs, this Jazz Age masterwork incorporates elements of cubism and abstraction. Its characters—Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949), unsung diva Adelaide Hall (1901-1993), and celebrated vaudevillian Tim Moore (1887-1958)—create a memorable Art Deco trio. The poster's stunning combination of hot colors and extreme angularity is remarkable, and while the name of the venue (which means 'red windmill' in English) is written at the top, Colin takes it one step further by placing the Moulin Rouge at the "heart" of the matter" (The Art Deco Poster, Crouse, p. 156).
1929
62 h × 45 w in (157 × 114 cm)
Hachard et Cie., Paris
Provenance: The Chassaing Collection of French Art Deco Posters | Swann Auction Galleries, New York, The Chassaing Collection of French Art Deco Posters, 2 October 2003, Lot 44 | Collection of William Crouse
Exhibited: Art Deco: Commercializing the Avant-Garde, 28 September 2023 - 25 February 2024, Poster House, New York
Condition: Cond A-: with minor tears, repaired corners, touched-up small losses, and pinpoints of foxing. Work has not been examined out of frame but is fully visible. Framed behind acrylic measuring 68.5 × 51.375 × 1.5 inches.
Literature: The Art Deco Poster, Crouse, pp. 156-157; Rennert/Weill no. 18, p. 33 (var)
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
