Date: 1914
Size: 32 x 17.25 inches
Artist: Gamy, Marguerite Campion
About The Poster:
Having observed the rapidly-growing interest in cars and racing during the early years of motor cars, Ernest Montaut produced his first motoring prints in the mid-1890s, and by 1897, his drawings were pictorial records of the many races in France.
Montaut's work was extremely well received in the Paris of his day and was shown in the fashionable shops of the Rue de l'Opera and Rue de la Paix, as well as in the better galleries.
Marguerite Montaut, Ernest's wife, joined him in his work. (While Marguerite Montaut's works were occasionally signed 'M. Montaut', she also used the name 'Gamy,' an anagram for Magy.) The Gamy-Montaut prints were all produced by the pochoir process in which the outlines for each image were drawn onto lithographic stones and printed. Using these uncolored prints as a template, elaborate stencils were cut for each color. Water-colour was then brushed onto the image through the stencil. The coloring process was quite complex, with each print taking several days to produce. It was also quite labor intensive, and the studio of Gamy-Montaut employed a group of trained artists, including Nevil and Campion, to assist in the coloring.
One of the elements of this piece we which love is the inclusion of horseback cavalry riders next to the automobiles which would soon replace them - the date of the piece, 1914, makes clear that change, and war, was just around the corner.
This poster is in excellent condition, ready to be framed.