Kees van Dongen (after) - Ludmilla Pitoëff in 'Sainte Jeanne', 1925
QUICK FACTS
Type
Museum Object
Categories
Era
1925
Origin
🇫🇷 France
Brand
Théâtre des Arts
Artist/Maker
Kees van DongenRarity
Scarce (6/10)
Discovered
Jan 25, 2026
1 months ago
DESCRIPTION
This is a superb example of a 1920s Parisian theatre poster, notable for its synthesis of a Fauvist figural style with bold Art Deco typography. The design, after a work by the celebrated artist Kees van Dongen, captures the intense, spiritual portrayal of Joan of Arc by the actress Ludmilla Pitoëff. The artist uses a strikingly limited palette—primarily a vibrant blue with sparse magenta accents—to render Pitoëff's face, focusing on her famously large, expressive eyes. This is not just an advertisement, but a significant work of graphic art from the height of the 'Années folles'.
CULTURAL ECHOES
Where This Object Echoes
The portrait's use of non-naturalistic color and expressive, fluid lines is a direct echo of the Fauvist movement, of which Van Dongen was a key member.
The intense psychological focus and stark, emotive depiction of the face shares sensibilities with German Expressionist portraiture of the same era, such as the work of the Brücke group.
Ritual & Ceremonial Use
- •The cultural ritual of Parisian theatre-going during the 'Années folles' (Roaring Twenties), where premiere performances were major social and artistic events.
Meaning Through Time
Joan of Arc as a religious martyr and military leader, condemned for heresy.
Re-canonized and embraced as a potent symbol of French nationalism and Catholic piety.
Reinterpreted as a modern figure: a rational mystic, a proto-Protestant, and a proto-feminist challenging established feudal and religious authority.
HISTORICAL STORY
DID YOU KNOW?
Ludmilla Pitoëff's performance as Joan of Arc was so acclaimed that George Bernard Shaw himself considered it one of the very finest interpretations of his play.
The printer, H. Chachoin of Paris, was a highly-regarded specialist in producing artist's posters during this period, working with many of the great modern masters a generation after the poster boom of the 1890s.
MATERIAL & CONDITION
Surface
The image is a stone lithograph on wove paper, which appears to have a warm, cream-colored ground. The lithographic ink sits on the surface with a characteristic matte finish, the blue displaying the subtle textural quality of a crayon-drawn stone. The colors remain remarkably vibrant.
Weight & Feel
As a large-format work on paper, its perceived heft would come almost entirely from the substantial gilt frame and glazing rather than the object itself.
Condition
Viewed through glazing, the sheet appears to be in very good condition with strong, seemingly unfaded color. There are a few scattered, minor spots of what appears to be foxing, consistent with its age, but no apparent major folds, tears, or repairs. An out-of-frame examination would be necessary for a definitive assessment.
RARITY ANALYSIS
Genuinely harder to find. Perhaps only dozens come to market annually. Collectors actively watch for these pieces.
Typical Characteristics
- Dozens per year at market
- Documented provenance valued
- Active collector pursuit
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Museum-Trained Art Historian
Confidence is high due to the clear presence of the printer's name and date (H. Chachoin, 1925), which aligns perfectly with the artist, subject matter, and Art Deco style. The only minor reservation is the inability to examine the object outside its frame.
KEY EVIDENCE
- 1The explicit printer's mark 'H. CHACHOIN Imp. Paris. 1925' which precisely dates and locates the production.
- 2The attribution 'D'après VAN DONGEN' correctly identifies the design's source from a major Fauvist artist.
- 3The subject matter relates to the historically significant 1925 Paris premiere production of Shaw's 'Sainte Jeanne' starring Ludmilla Pitoëff.
- 4The visual style, combining Fauvist portraiture and Art Deco typography, is entirely consistent with the artistic milieu of mid-1920s Paris.
UNCERTAINTIES
- •The assessment is limited by the inability to inspect the paper stock and reverse side out of the frame.
- •Minor spotting/foxing is visible, which could potentially be more extensive than it appears through the glass.
WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY
- →Examination by a professional paper conservator, including careful de-framing to assess the full sheet.
- →Inspection of the paper's edges and reverse for any collectors' marks, watermarks, or condition issues.
- →Confirmation of dimensions against catalogue raisonné data for this specific poster (typically around 159 x 120 cm).
ESTIMATED VALUE
Updated: Feb 27, 2026
- Market comparables from auctions & retail
- Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
- Current collector demand & trends
- Low = quick sale, high = patient seller
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
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