This is a
very nice antiquarian (circa 1900) caricature done by Georges Goursat, a popular caricaturist of France's "Belle Epoque" period who was known as "Sem" and whose drawings typically featured the social elite, actors, singers, politicians, and the like who frequented Maxim's, Longchamp Downs, etc. He published many of his drawings in various French newspapers and magazines (see a photo of SEM directly below).
Georges Goursat (Sem), 1914
The caricature is an original hand-colored pochoir lithograph print on woven paper from about 1903. It is an original antique print and not a modern reproduction.
This caricature shows a humorous scene from Chez Maxim's. An imbibing gentleman is shown in progressively more drunken states from drinking "1/2 bout." (bottle) of St-Marceau champagn to a full magnum.
The gentleman who is portrayed at various stages of inebriation is Maurice Bertrand. He was a well-known fixture at Chez Maxim's. His identification was penciled in by someone (by SEM?) just below the image of him smoking a cigar (please see photo directly below).
Condition. There is toning, especially around the edges. The fold crease in the middle of the double page print is starting to split. The edges have minor wear and tears and small creases, common imperfections associated with age.
All in all, the primary depiction of the subject is itself in good condition with no tears or folds or stains.
{Sold by DesertGold, 2016, $80.}
