L’Eau des Sirenes | Maitre de L’Affiche: Plate #153

This artwork is from Les Maitres de L’Affiche series; miniature versions of outstanding stone lithograph artworks of the most important advertising posters by the finest artists.
“In the 1880’s poster art was just emerging from the drabness of letterpress announcements showing little but black type. Cheret’s airy images were so startlingly bright and fresh on the walls of Paris that they attracted admirers and his sprightly women the appellation ‘Chérette.’ It is not too far fetched to say that they were instrumental in ushering in the golden age of posters…In this censored version of Cheret’s bare breasted sirens sing the praises of a haircoloring product named in their honor (Mermaid Water). Apparently, the mermaid quartet was too alluring for the Paris censors who were just beginning their efforts at this time. They refused to accept the poster until Cheret lengthened the hair to partly cover the offending flesh ”
(Gold p.7)