Antique Lithograph Poster City of Arles Mireille 1909 Retro Vintage Wall Art

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

An antique poster, an illustrated lithograph, depicting an emblematic scene from the performance of "Mireille" at the Arles Amphitheatre, dated 1909. The artwork features typical early 20th-century graphics, with a dynamic composition showing a woman in traditional costume in the foreground, holding a black ribbon, surrounded by other characters in period attire. The background reveals the monumental ruins and arches of the Arles Amphitheatre, immediately evoking the city's architectural heritage.

The color palette is dominated by pastel tones: light blue, gray, beige, pale yellow, and touches of black, giving the whole a soft, retro atmosphere. The contours are sharp, the layout structured, faithful to the artistic posters produced during the Belle Époque. The upper part displays the text: "City of Arles. Fiftieth Anniversary of Mireille. Jubilee Performance by Mistral..." followed by the date "May 30, 1909" and the location "at the amphitheatre."

The bottom of the poster details the artistic cast (Ed. Clément, Dufranne, Vieuille, Compan...), the artistic director (A. Sauge), as well as a stylized decorative motif on the right, signed "Lelee." There is also a golden graphic frame, typical of lithographic creations of this period.

The poster is held by pebbles at all four corners, which allows the entire printed surface to be visible, without a frame or mat. The visible edges show slight curves and some handling marks, especially at the corners, but the illustration surface remains clear and without apparent major alterations.

The graphic style and iconography of this poster are characteristic of the mural art productions of the Art Nouveau period, highlighting the elegance of regional costumes and the Southern heritage in connection with the work of Frédéric Mistral.

Condition

Used antique poster, sold as is. Some creases and signs of wear visible at the corners, illustrated surface clean and well-preserved for its age.

Did you know? The character of Mireille, created by Frédéric Mistral in 1859, has become an emblematic figure of Provence. Charles Gounod's opera "Mireille," often performed in the Arles Amphitheatre, helped popularize this heroine and establish the tradition of grand open-air lyrical performances in the south of France.

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Keywords: antique Arles poster, Mireille lithograph, retro wall art, Belle Époque poster, decorative vintage poster, Mireille opera 1909, illustrated poster France, early 20th century graphic art, vintage wall art, opera poster France, art nouveau poster, retro wall decoration