Ariane Theatre National De L’Opera – Albert Maignan (1906) – Art Nouveau Poster Print

Albert Maignan’s poster for Jules Massenet’s Ariane combines the drama of Greek mythology with the sumptuous visual language of Belle Epoque theater advertising. Ariane sits alone on a rocky shore, her flowing white drapery echoing the movement of the sea behind her, while a classical ship approaches in the distance. The small inset scene at lower left introduces another mythological figure, while the roses at its base provide a symbolic detail that connects the composition to the opera’s story. Warm oranges, creams, blues, and reds give the image the luminous, painterly quality of a particularly refined theatrical poster.

The poster was created for the premiere of Massenet’s Ariane at the Paris Opera on October 31, 1906. The five-act opera, with a libretto by Catulle Mendes, reworks the Greek myth of Ariadne, Theseus, and Phaedra, following Ariane from her role in helping Theseus escape the Minotaur to her abandonment on Naxos. Maignan’s original oil maquette is preserved by the Bibliotheque-musee de l’Opera, while the finished color lithograph was printed by Devambez.

 

🖨️ Print features:

– Made with museum-grade archival paper for excellent printing fidelity and vibrant color reproduction

– Paper weight: 189 g/m2

– For indoor use only

– Care instructions: If the print does gather any dust, you may wipe it off gently with a clean, dry cloth.

– Please note: Due to the production process of these posters, please allow for slight size deviations with a tolerance +/- 1/16″

 

🚚 Fulfillment, Shipping, and Return Policy:

– Printed and shipped from the U.S.

– Ships in a sturdy mailing tube, frame not included

– As our items are unique and made to order, we can only accept a return or exchange in the event that an item arrives damaged or misprinted. We cannot accept returns if you order the wrong size or change your mind. Any return requests must be made within 14 days of receiving the order.

 

💬 Questions? Looking for something else, or want something in a different size? Feel free to reach out anytime; we’ll see what we can do!