Art Nouveau masterpiece: Paul Berthon Ermitage Postcard

One of the finest pieces of Art Nouveau poster art, retouched and colors restored to the original), this cover for art magazine L'Ermitage, made by Paul Berthon in 1897. The beautiful red haired woman, together with the flowers and floral decorations are typical for the Art Nouveau period. Paul Emile Berthon (1872–1909) was a French artist who produced primarily posters and lithographs. Berthon's work is in the style of Art Nouveau, much like his contemporary Alphonse Mucha. Berthon studied as a painter in Villefranche before moving to Paris. He later enrolled at the Ecole Normale d'Enseignement de Dessin and received lessons from Luc-Olivier Merson. His study of the decorative arts influenced his print making, influencing the strong lines and natural details that guided his art. The vast majority of Berthon's lithographed posters did not include advertisements and were meant to stand on their own.