Valse des Brunes

Music sheet for piano "Valse des Brunes" composed by Louis Ganne. Cover design by Jules Cheret, French painter and lithographer who became a master of Belle Époque poster art. He has been called the father of the modern poster. His large posters displaying modestly free-spirited females found a larger audience, pundits began calling him the "father of the women's liberation." Females had previously been depicted in art as prostitutes or puritans. The women of Chéret's posters, joyous, elegant and lively—'Cherettes', as they were popularly called—were neither. It was freeing for the women of Paris and heralded a noticeably more open atmosphere in Paris where women were able to engage in formerly taboo activities, such as wearing low-cut bodices and smoking in public. These 'Cherettes' were widely seen and recognised, and a writer of the time said "It is difficult to conceive of Paris without its 'Cheréts'. Printed in Paris. Poor condition of the cover. Frayed spine, rusty staples. The front cover is partially detached. Rubbings and dust staining on the front and back covers and page 1. Prominent staining along the spine, tear on the back cover. Pages are in acceptable condition.