Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A charming Art Nouveau advertising poster featuring a mother, child, and cat enjoying tea and chocolate. This specific piece is a high-quality vintage reproduction of one of the most iconic images from the Belle Époque era of French graphic design.
Story
In 1895, Steinlen used his own daughter, Colette, and their family cat as models for this advertisement. It transformed a simple sales pitch into a warm, domestic scene that defined the cozy 'Chat Noir' aesthetic of Montmartre. This print brought that Parisian magic into a modern home.
Maker / Origin
Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen was a Swiss-born French Art Nouveau painter and printmaker, best known for his 'Le Chat Noir' poster. He was a prolific illustrator who lived in the bohemian Montmartre district, famously obsessed with cats, which appeared in nearly all his domestic works.
Condition & Value
The print shows some edge wear and a small tear at the bottom center. There is also slight creasing in the upper corners. These minor flaws are common for unframed paper prints and reduce the value by about 20% compared to a mint-condition example.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.