Cham - Les Folies parisiennes - 1883

The Parisian Follies, by Cham

Published in 1883, this satirical collection vividly and sharply portrays Parisian society at the end of the 19th century. Through a series of short texts and caricatures, Cham sketches the vices, fashions, and excesses of urban life, whether it be social leisure, artistic fads, bourgeois behaviors, or everyday quirks. His gaze, both amused and caustic, relies on a great capacity for visual and narrative synthesis. Les Folies parisiennes thus fits within the tradition of illustrated press and social caricature, offering today a valuable testimony of the spirit, humor, and obsessions of Paris during the Third Republic.

The red percaline cardboard binding is captivating with its decorative richness and sense of movement. The lavish composition, printed in gold and black, frames the title with a succession of lively scenes featuring popular figures, acrobats, and grotesque characters. The exuberant typography of the title harmoniously integrates with the illustration, enhancing the visual impact of the cover. Overall, it demonstrates a cardboard binding designed as a true spectacle object, intended to immediately attract attention through its color, rhythm, and narrative playfulness.

This book comes from the former personal library of Bruno Durand (1890-1975), a Provençal poet of Occitan expression and a Félibre, who was also an archivist, librarian, historian, and linguist. A public library bears his name on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence.

1883, 23 x 32 cm, 343 pages. Full red publisher's percaline binding. Some stains and signs of rubbing on the binding. Rare foxing, mainly on the first and last pages.