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 a signed original hand-colored pochoir lithograph print on woven paper from about 1901. It is an original antique print and not a modern reproduction.
This caricature shows two dapper gentlemen at the Paris Opera.
The man on the left is Jean-Louis Forain. Forain (1852-1931) was a French impressionist painter, lithographer, watercolorist, and etcher who, like SEM, focused on the popular and modern forms of Parisian entertainment, e.g., horse racing, ballet, opera, and cafes. His identification was penciled in by someone (by Sem?) above his hat (please see photo directly below).
The man on the right is Caran d'Ache. His real name was Emmanuel Poire (1858-1909) a French satirist and cartoonist. His identification was penciled in by someone (by Sem?) above his hat (please see photo directly below).
On the back of the picture is some French penciled writing which I can't make out (please see close-up directly below; deciphering help is appreciated).
Condition. There is toning, especially around the edges and at the top and bottom borders. The picture had apparently been stored or framed with the top and bottom portions folded--as can be seen by the difference in coloration. The edges have wear and tears and small creases, common imperfections associated with age.
All in all, however, the primary depiction of the men is, in and of itself, in good condition with no tears or folds or stains.
{Sold by DesertGold, $29.99, 2017}
