The Coffee Culture of Japanese Cafe

Japanese Cafe lithographic poster Edward Funier

The Japanese Cafe is a song and dance nightclub in Montmartre-a gathering place for Parisian artists. In 1893, the place was redecorated and incorporated into the very fashionable Japanese style and lanterns of the time. In order to attract customers to attend the opening ceremony of the nightclub, cafe owner Edward Funier customized the poster from Lautrek. Singers, dancers and investors appeared in the poster screen. In the close-up auditorium, Lautrek painted his two good friends: on the right is Edward Dijardan, an art critic and founder of the literary publication Wagoner people Journals; in the middle is the famous dancer Janet Avril, whose elegant black silhouette occupies the main position of the picture. In the background, another famous actress and singer, Yft Gilport, is performing on the stage, although her head is abruptly cut off by the frame, but with her long black gloves and exaggerated gesture, the audience at that time could recognize her at a glance.

In the 1890s, with the progress of color printing technology and the loosening of laws restricting the display of posters, the number of lithographic posters began to surge. Dances, coffee shop concerts and street parties enrich nightlife. Lautrek's advertising posters cling to the vibrant appeal of this prosperous "beautiful age".