“Lettres & enseignes”, the visual transformation of commerce and urban spaces during La Belle Époque

The Belle Époque completed the transformation of commerce and consumption that occurred throughout the 19th century. From then on, many retail businesses have set up on the streets of cities as well as department stores, transforming the visual landscape. Similarly, transport has evolved significantly and although road signs are still rudimentary, railways, omnibus or tram companies and the signs they carry are becoming essential in urban space. Signpainters are increasingly in demand to decorate a storefront, illustrate a sign, provide signposts, etc. Publications support these developments, collecting examples, proposing models, etc. Designed by distinguished artists, these collections are abundantly illustrated and benefit from excellent printing, generally in chromolithography. This file presents some plates taken from two emblematic portfolios of this research. We discover “Lettres et enseignes art nouveau” with drawings and support documents dedicated to arabesque and floral decoration. Another series offers more sober and less stylistically marked creations, which announce the modernity after the First World War.

Documents :

— Lettres et Enseignes Art Nouveau, by E. MULIER, Professor of decorative layout, H. Vial, 1900.

— Lettres et Enseignes, by Marc Bordere, Painter decorator, Academy officer, Laureate of École Nationale des Arts décoratifs, author of various works, circa 1905.

Archives Signes.