Arthur Wesley Dow: "Modern Art" (1986) Original Maitres De l'Affiche Lithograph, Plate 36

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Description

This is an authentic, original plate from the publication Les Maîtres de l'Affiche (Masters of the Poster) published in August … Read more This is an authentic, original plate from the publication Les Maîtres de l'Affiche (Masters of the Poster) published in August 1896 by Imprimerie Chaix, and would be a great piece for buyers interested in Art Nouveau, early American modernism, and historic printmaking.

Created by the influential American painter, printmaker, and educator Arthur Wesley Dow (1857–1922), Plate 36 was originally designed as a promotional poster for the quarterly magazine Modern Art. Dow was deeply inspired by Japanese woodblock printing (ukiyo-e), and this piece showcases those principles. Utilizing bold, flat color planes, strong organic lines, and a meditative landscape silhouette, this artwork represents a radical departure from the busy, bright cabaret advertisements dominating Paris at the time. It stands out as one of the few iconic American masterpieces selected by Jules Chéret for inclusion in the elite French series.

Arthur Wesley Dow is legendary not just for his artwork, but for teaching titans of modern art like Georgia O'Keeffe.

Documented Specifications:
Artist: Arthur Wesley Dow (American, 1857–1922)
Title: Modern Art
Series: Les Maîtres de l'Affiche, Plate 36
Date of Publication: August 1896
Printer/Publisher: Imprimerie Chaix, Paris
Medium: Fine Stone Color Lithograph on original wove paper
Sheet Dimensions: Full original margins, approx. 11.5" x 15.5" (29 x 40 cm)
Authenticity Marks: Features Dow's printed monogram signature in the matrix, official lower-left margin publication text ("Les Maîtres de l'Affiche PL. 36, Imprimerie Chaix"), and the crucial embossed publisher blindstamp in the lower right corner. See less