Jules Chéret

Jules Chéret (1836–1932) was a French painter and lithographer widely regarded as the father of the modern poster, whose vibrant, joyful compositions revolutionized commercial art in the late 19th century. His distinctive style featured exuberant, idealized female figures—known as 'Chérettes'—rendered in bold colors and dynamic poses, drawing on influences from Rococo masters such as Watteau and Fragonard. Chéret elevated poster design to a fine art form, producing over 1,000 lithographic posters for Parisian theaters, cabarets, and consumer products, and is considered a pioneering figure of the Art Nouveau movement.