Pamono Pierre-Georges Jeanniot, Le Rire No.79 Proof, 1904, Lithograph & Gouache> Art Nouveau

An original 1904 lithograph print, Pierre-Georges Jeanniot, Le Rire No.79 Belle Epoque Illustration.A fabulous Belle Epoque artist’s print proof, in lithograph with watercolour and gouache, by Pierre-Georges Jeanniot (1848–1934). Jeanniot was a very successful illustrator and a close friend of Edgar Degas (1834–1917).This image was designed for the cover of the French satirical magazine Le Rire, number 79, August 1904. The print comes with an original copy of the sixteen-page magazine where the image is reproduced.The hand colouring on the original proof (which is printed only in black) is particularly vibrant and shows the artist’s original colour intent. The colouring is less vibrant when translated into printed lithographic colour on the final magazine.In Jeanniot’s image we see a weary red-nosed gentleman and his prostrate heavily pregnant wife taking coffee at the coast, presumably a seaside retreat from Paris. The artist satirises bourgeois decadence and the absurd adherence to fashion; below the image on the cover is the humorous caption: ‘Lui: Si c’est un garçon, nous pourrions l’appeler Jacques / Elle: Je n’aime pas les Q dans les noms propres.’ (Him: If it’s a boy, we could call him Jacques / Her: I don’t like Q’s in proper nouns’.This is one of a pair of print proofs by Jeanniot that we have for sale (see stock number KB-194).All artworks come with a Certificate of Authenticity and—if it is a collection artwork—its accompanying collection text or artist biography. Signed: Signed in the plate lower right. Inscribed: ‘Le Rire’ stamp lower right. Height: 22.5cm (8.9″) Width: 20.8cm (8.2″) Condition: Some minor creasing. There are two short repaired tears to the lower margin as shown. Marks to the margins and hinging tape to the upper edge as shown. These could be successfully mounted out. Please see photos for detail. Presented: Unframed.