26 - Paul Colin (1892–1985) - Bal Tabarin. 1931. Signed in pencil. Original poster, lithograph, mounted on canvas. 60x40 cm. Condition A-, two small spots at the edge of the top margin.

Paul Colin (1892–1985) - Bal Tabarin. 1931. Signed in pencil. Original poster, lithograph, mounted on canvas. 60x40 cm. Condition A-, two small spots at the 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, but also serves as a reminder to the discerning audience of the central role dance played in the shows presented there. By evoking the past, present, and future, Colin depicts Jane Avril performing the French Cancan, Josephine 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 to 1928, this poster actually bears witness to the stylistic shift the theater underwent with the arrival of Pierre Sandrini, who succeeded Auguste Bosc in early 1929. Together with his partner and stage manager Rouffet, they revolutionized music hall by replacing the glitz of the Belle Époque with the boldness, luxury, and refinement of the Roaring Twenties. To illustrate this, they turned to the most sought-after 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 was sure to include a reference to the time when the Moulin Rouge temporarily relocated to Tabarin for a few years following a fire, and it was there that the now world-famous tradition of the can-can was carried on. In addition to dancing, the venue hosted zany contests for Montmartre’s most beautiful calves and the biggest behind, as well as women’s wrestling matches—likely intended to be more erotic than athletic. A must-see spot at the foot of the hill, its incredible Art Nouveau façade—which, incidentally, inspired that of the Casino de Paris—is worth highlighting. While 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 apartment building with a Carrefour Market on the ground floor—a structure that inspires absolutely nothing in anyone. We thank Ms. Sandrini for this information.