Francisque Poulbot (1879-1946) Painting - Poster Design For The Fashion Ball

Francisque Poulbot
(Saint-Denis, 1879 - Paris, 1946)
Poster design 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 urchin of Montmartre, thin and cheeky, which he made universal. To designate a likeable rascal, the very name "poulbot" entered common parlance. A good-natured and shy giant, always sporting a wide-brimmed hat and a cigarette, Poulbot never left the Montmartre hill, except to go to the country house he was able to buy in Normandy. Self-taught, he learned by observing the spectacle of the street. A prominent figure on the Butte Montmartre, he founded the Republic of Montmartre in 1921 with a few artist friends, and immediately came to the aid of its inhabitants, who were suffering from widespread poverty after the War, particularly the children. Thus, in 1923, he created a Dispensary for Little Poulbots, a precursor to the Restos du Cœur (a French food bank). Claiming to be lazy, Poulbot left behind an immense body of work. He drew for over a hundred newspapers, illustrated books and trade catalogs, created more than one hundred and ten posters, used his designs on a multitude of merchandise, and wrote short stories, plays, and songs. His name, which sold well, became a kind of trademark. A plaque has been placed on his birthplace: "Painter of children and a good man." An old photograph shows Poulbot posing in front of our poster design with his niece Zozo, who became his adopted daughter and is probably the model for it. The poster – which was produced – advertised a ball organized by the trade unions to raise funds for the relief fund of the fashion workers. A prize of 10,000 francs was awarded to the winner of a hat competition held for the occasion.