*THEOPHILE ALEXANDRE STEINLEN (1859-1923 )Tour of the Chat Noir. Poster. 1896. Lithograph (imp. Verneau). 365 x 550 [395 x 615]. Crauzat 496. Printed in colors. Very nice and fresh proof on thin buff vellum, cloth-backed. Small black ink discharges in the lower left corner of the folio. All margins. "Steinlen designed this now-famous poster to announce the French tour of the Chat Noir artists. The slightly mangy but jaunty cat with the piercing yellow eyes symbolizes the unconventionality of the cabaret, where people from all walks of life felt at home and which could count on contributions from contemporary performers, musicians, writers and artists. Rumour has it that its founder, Rodolphe Salis, gave the cabaret its name after almost falling over a black cat while inspecting the premises. Of course the name also had unmistakably erotic connotations, which could be put to good use in naughty songs. Steinlen gave the cat an aureole - like a true icon - and also the ironic title Montjoye Montmartre, since this hill in Paris was an artistic place of pilgrimage for all Bohemians of the fin de siècle." (Fleur Roos Rosa de Carvalho, Marije Vellekop, Printmaking in Paris; The Rage for prints at the fin de siècle, Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, 2012, p. 152). All lots in this sale are subject to an additional 5.5% temporary import tax charge. In the event of re-exportation outside the European Union, this charge may be refunded to the buyer.