artofnancydrew:Les Coulisses de l'Opera by Jules Chéret; color lithograph 1890 with a bonus
artofnancydrew: Les Coulisses de l'Opera by Jules Chéret; color lithograph 1890 with a bonus postcard because ephemera is cool For the show ‘Backstage at the Opera’ at the Grevin Museum, we observe a bevy of enchantresses practicing their dance steps, their movements caught so vividly we can practically feel the whiff of air stirred up by their pirouettes. This is one of Chéret’s masterpieces. The place where shows like this were held is a Paris original: originally a waxworks founded around 1880 by caricaturist Alfred Grevin, it included a 500 seat auditorium were live performances were given to supplement the meagre income Grevin was making from the museum part of the operation. The theatre had mirrored walls, and Chéret himself painted the ceiling. The presentations included a mix of magic shows, revues and concerts, anything to bring in the patrons. What’s perhaps most amazing is that the place is still in business and still uses the same approach of museum (22 tableaux from the Belle Epoque) and live entertainment. [x]Found in: The Final Scene -- source link