Francisque Poulbot (1879-1946) Painting Poster Project For The Bal De La Mode

Francisque POULBOT
(Saint-Denis, 1879 - Paris, 1946)
Poster project for the Bal de la Mode - February 25, 1922
Charcoal and oil on canvas
H. 99 cm; W. 91 cm
Signed lower right

In the first half of the 20th century, Francisque Poulbot was one of the most popular French graphic artists. He created a type, the street kid of Montmartre, skinny and mocking, whom he managed to make universal. To designate a likeable rascal, the very name of poulbot has entered common parlance. A good-natured and shy giant, always wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a cigarette, Poulbot never left the Butte Montmartre, except to go to the country house he was able to buy in Normandy. Self-taught, he trained himself by observing the spectacle of the street. A prominent figure on the hill, he founded the République de Montmartre in 1921 with a few artist friends, and immediately came to the aid of its inhabitants who were in great poverty after the War, especially children. Thus, in 1923, he created a Dispensaire des petits poulbots which advertised the restaurants du coeur. Describing himself as lazy, Poulbot left behind an immense body of work. He drew for more than a hundred newspapers, illustrated books, commercial catalogues, created more than a hundred and ten posters, declined his models through a number of derivative products, wrote short stories, plays and songs. His name, which sold, became a sort of registered trademark. A plaque was affixed to his birthplace: "Painter of children and good man."

An old photograph shows Poulbot posing in front of our poster project with his niece Zozo, who became his adopted daughter, who is probably the model. The poster - which was produced - announced a ball organized by the trade union chambers with the aim of raising funds for the relief fund for women workers in the fashion industry. A prize of 10,000 francs was awarded to the winner of a hat competition organized for the occasion.