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a vintage poster advertising a woman in a red dress and hatan image of a drawing of a man with a guitar
Premium Maître Nicolas CONSTANTY

26 - Paul Colin (1892–1985) – Bal Tabarin.
See original version (French)

Estimate €2,000 - €2,500
Sale commission
Description
Paul Colin (1892–1985) – Bal Tabarin. 1931. Signed in pencil. Original poster, lithograph, mounted on canvas. 60 × 40 cm. Grade A–, two small stains at the very edge of the top margin. This iconic Art Deco-era cabaret poster is, in fact, a tribute to the prominent female performers the artist admired, whilst also serving as a reminder to the discerning audience of the role dance played in the shows staged there. By evoking the past, the present and the future, Colin depicts Jane Avril performing the French Cancan, Joséphine Baker performing the Charleston, and, in the foreground, La Argentina performing flamenco. One could almost see in it a diachronic Cubist composition by the artist Grégoire Mathias. Often mistakenly dated as 1928, this poster actually bears witness to the stylistic shift the theatre underwent with the arrival of Pierre Sandrini, who succeeded Auguste Bosc in early 1929. Together with his business partner and the stage manager Rouffet, they revolutionised music hall by replacing the glitz of the Belle Époque with the audacity, luxury and refinement of the Roaring Twenties. To illustrate this, they turned to the most fashionable poster artist of the time, Paul Colin, who had made a name for himself with his poster for the Revue Nègre. In his poster, he did not fail to mention an anecdote about when the Moulin Rouge moved to Tabarin for a few years following a fire, and it was there that the now world-famous tradition of the cancan was kept alive. As well as dancing, the venue hosted zany competitions for the most beautiful calves in Montmartre and the largest behind, as well as women’s wrestling matches – likely intended to be more erotic than sporting. An unmissable landmark at the foot of the hill, its incredible Art Nouveau façade is particularly noteworthy – it actually inspired that of the Casino de Paris. Whilst this famous Parisian cabaret was a vibrant source of creativity and art throughout its existence, it was demolished in 1966 to make way for a drab block of flats with a Carrefour Market on the ground floor – a development that inspires absolutely no one. We would like to thank Mrs Sandrini for this information.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Shocking posters! Poster sale no. 18.
Auction location
Auction time 11/05/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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