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 1903. It is an original antique print and not a modern reproduction.
This caricature shows three dapper gentlemen.
The man on the left is Lord Carnarvon (George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon). Lord Carnarvon was a very wealthy financier of serious Egyptology research. He loved horse racing and fast cars. His identification was penciled in by someone (by Sem?) above his hat (please see photo directly below).
The short man in the middle with the derby hat and smoking a cigar is Tod Sloan (James Forman Sloan). He was an American jockey who popularized the monkey crouch riding style in horse racing. His identification was penciled in by someone (by Sem?) above his hat (please see photo directly below).
The bearded man on the right wearing a top hat and monoglass is the well-known French politician, Monsieur Broet.
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 bottom portion 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 three men in and of itself is in good condition with no tears or folds or stains.
{Sold by DesertGold, 2015, $65.}
