1889 GTC Exposition Universelle View of Paris w/ the Eiffel Tower

This is an 1889 Gibert-Clarey (GTC) chromolithograph broadside issued to promote the Paris Exposition Universelle. Although numerous stunning broadsides were issued for the Exposition, this one stands out for its beautiful and technical mastery.

A Closer Look

The newly constructed Eiffel Tower, then the world's tallest building, dominates the image. Surrounding it are the fairground's many pavilions and exhibition halls. Visitors roam the fairgrounds and appreciate the Palais du Trocadero and awe at the newest architectural, technological, and scientific marvels. Trains, streetcars, and carriages provide transportation but are themselves technological marvels. Vignettes resembling postcards surround the central view, promoting exhibits, including the 'Rue de Caire', the Central Pavilion, and the structures dedicated to promoting some of the international participants: Brazil, Bolivia, Arabia, and the French colonies of Annam and Tonkin (Vietnam).

1889 Exposition Universelle

Held in Paris, France, from May 5 through October 31, 1889, the Exposition was the fourth World's Fair held in Paris. It witnessed the unveiling of the Eiffel Tower, which was, then as now, a marvel of engineering. The fair welcomed over 32,000,000 visitors and took place on the Champ de Mars, the parade ground in front of the École Militaire. Other notable structures include the Gallery of Machines, a hall dedicated to science and technology (where some of Thomas Edison's most recent inventions were exhibited), and the Palaces of Liberal Arts and Fine Arts. One of the more popular attractions was the 'Street of Cairo' ('Rue de Caire') which recreated the architecture and street life of Cairo, Egypt.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography, sometimes called oleography, is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired product. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color of chromolithography made it exceptional for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This broadside was designed, engraved, and published by Gibert-Clarey of Touris to promote the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle. We note an example in the collection of the Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Darmstadt. We have found only a handful of other instances when examples have appeared on the private market.