LB - Carnaval de Binche Mardi Gras - 1910s

This poster, cleaned and mounted in the Japanese style on Canson and cotton paper, dates from 1910 by the Binche-born painter Louis Buisseret (monogram 'L.B.') and was printed for distribution by the Affiches Marci house in Brussels for the benefit of the National Society of Belgian Railways (SNCB); the central motif represents a Gille de Binche, rich in folkloric and ritual symbols.

What makes the poster interesting: the author, the motif, a SNCB poster with a tourism-oriented meaning from the very beginning of the 20th century, etc

Affiches Marci (Brussels), historic printing house known for the dissemination of advertising and tourist posters in Belgium at the turn of the XXth century.

The central figure is the Gille de Binche, emblematic figure of the local carnival: costume embroidered with heraldic motifs (stars, lions, crowns), bells (jingle bells), wax mask and large feathered hat. These elements function as markers of community identity, ritual protection, and belonging to the procession; the Gilles’ practice (orange throwing, parades, rondels) is documented as a seasonal and identitary ritual inscribed in local memory. The heraldic attributes and the architectural staging (cathedral silhouette, decorative masks) reinforce the idea of a carnival that is both popular and solemn, intended to attract the gaze of travelers and collectors.

The mention of the National Society of Belgian Railways on the poster signals a commission or promotional diffusion aimed at promoting Binche as a destination accessible by train; this type of partnership between railway companies and printers was common to stimulate regional tourism at the turn of the century. The printing by Affiches Marci explains the lithographic quality and wide diffusion of the image in carnival programs and leaflets throughout the 20th century.

The 1910 poster served as a reference visual for the Binche Carnival for several decades and remains today a sought-after object by enthusiasts of old posters and carnival iconography. The stylistic choice of Buisseret (central composition, vivid palette, ornate typography) illustrates the transition between the traditional illustrated poster and modern tourist promotion.

The images are part of the description. Shipping insured and available for pickup at a collection point.