Conserved - Mounted on Linen Paper - Ready to display. Le Rire (Paris, France) was a French Magazine published from October 1894 until its final issue in April 1971. In each issue of the popular French satiric journal, Le Rire - which means - To Laugh - was celebrated for its front and back cover full color illustrations, that are highly collectible today. It featured full-page chromotypographs on both covers and in the centerfold - and many of these pieces are now highly desirable collectibles. In this weekly satirical magazine, many artists contributed cartoons. These same artists often worked in other modes, such as poster design, fine art prints, or fashion illustration. Many of the illustrations display the graceful lines and flat (Japonesque) coloration of Art Nouveau, but other, often much edgier, styles appear, too. The works touch on many themes: politics, social mores, class, sex, war, entertainment, work, national identity, and much more. One might think of Le Rire as an equivalent to today’s magazines like National Lampoon, late-night TV talk shows, or the risque corners of Playboy cartoon illustrations. The most prominent contributor was Théophile Steinlen. His illustrations were biting caricatures of the political -jackasses - of the day. Illustrations were contributed by artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Georges Goursat, Rene Georges Hermann-Paul, Juan Gris, Lucien Metivet, Georges Meunier, Jean-Louis Forain, Adolphe Willette, Joaquín Xaudaro, Leonetto Cappiello, Albert Guillaume, Manuel Luque, Jules Grandjouan, Abel Faivre, and Jules-Alexandre Grun. Each set is valued at over $500 ($250 each) and we are offering a low starting bid with no reserve for each lot.

VG