Le Loge au Mascaron – Le Missionnaire – Toulouse Lautrec – 1894
La Loge au Mascaron Doré or The Box with the Guilded mask is one of Henri Toulouse Lautrec’s best known creations. Lautrec created the lithograph for a theatre programme for Marcel Luguet’s play Le Missionnaire (The Missionary). The programmes image does not concentrate on the performance on the stage. Instead, Lautrec has produced a stunning illustration of enthralled spectators in one of the theatre’s boxes. The title of this poster refers to the gilded mask on the balustrade of the theatre box.
The play had its premiere at the Théâtre Libre on 24 April 1894. The goal of the Théâtre Libre or Free Theatre was to present new plays that had not yet been performed by the larger theatres. The theatre was supported solely by subscribers. Not collecting money on the door, meant it was not legally considered a theatre. This ensured it was not bound by censorship, allowing the production of plays other theatres could not perform. The woman’s companion in the poster is the English illustrator Charles Edward Conder, a friend of Lautrec’s who he had previously met at the Moulin Rouge.
This plate was part of the book Les Programmes illustrés, written by Ernest Maindron, printed by Imprimerie Charles Verneau, and published in 1897. This book contained examples of theatre programs, invitations, menus, and other ephemera.
An original copy of this Le Loge au Mascaron poster sold in 2019 for over £12,000.
Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears, or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.
The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a print and poster for a bargain price.
