Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Henri-Gabriel Ibels
1892 illustrated program by Henri-Gabriel Ibels for the Théâtre libre

1892

$1,018.42
£758.15
€850
CA$1,394.98
A$1,551.53
CHF 810.16
MX$18,880.42
NOK 10,346.96
SEK 9,703.63
DKK 6,470.75
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This striking 1892 illustrated program by Henri-Gabriel Ibels represents a rare surviving artifact from the golden age of Le Théâtre Libre, the pioneering independent theatre led by André Antoine in Paris. Created to accompany a triple bill — À bas le progrès!, Mademoiselle Julie, and Le Ménage Brésile — this program captures the radical energy of a movement that redefined modern theatre and visual culture in France. Henri-Gabriel Ibels, a close associate of Toulouse-Lautrec and a prominent figure of the Nabis group, brought a distinct graphic language to his theatre work. His illustrations are bold, flat, and rhythmic, echoing the aesthetics of Japanese woodblock prints and the emerging Art Nouveau style. Here, Ibels merges theatrical content with visual modernism, transforming what might have been a simple handbill into a work of collectable art. Each of the three plays included in this evening's program represented a defiance of convention: À bas le progrès! was a biting satire, critical of blind faith in modernization. Mademoiselle Julie, August Strindberg's controversial psychological drama, challenged gender roles and class structures with a realism that scandalized traditional audiences. Le Ménage Brésile offered a glimpse into the complexities of domestic life, laced with the naturalist precision that Théâtre Libre was celebrated for. Ibels's design responds to these themes with an immediacy that aligns perfectly with the Théâtre Libre’s mission: to democratize the stage, to provoke thought, and to integrate the visual and performing arts. His work on this program bridges the worlds of theatre and the avant-garde press, where he was a regular contributor to publications such as La Revue Blanche and Le Cri de Paris. More than just promotional material, this program is a visual manifesto. It asserts that theatre is not merely a literary or performative event — it is a total artwork, one that begins the moment a spectator holds the program in hand. In this sense, Ibels’s work functions as both a historical document and an object of artistic intent. Today, this rare example of Belle Époque theatre ephemera is valued not only for its connection to revolutionary dramaturgy but also for its role in shaping the future of graphic design and visual culture. Theater - Avant-Garde - France Aitken Printed by Eugène Verneau in Paris
  • Creator:
    Henri-Gabriel Ibels (1867 - 1936)
  • Creation Year:
    1892
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9.45 in (24 cm)Width: 12.6 in (32 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Good condition, soiling.
  • Gallery Location:
    PARIS, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1792216432532

More From This Seller

View All
Original 1893 illustrated program by Henri-Gabriel Ibels for Le Théâtre Libre
By Henri Gabriel Ibels
Located in PARIS, FR
This original 1893 illustrated program by Henri-Gabriel Ibels is a remarkable survival from the pioneering days of Le Théâtre Libre, André Antoine’s radical theatrical collective tha...
Category

1890s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

1892 Rare illustrated program by Henri-Gabriel Ibels for the Théâtre Libre
By Henri Gabriel Ibels
Located in PARIS, FR
This rare illustrated program, created in 1892 by Henri-Gabriel Ibels, is a vivid artifact from the vibrant and avant-garde world of Le Théâtre Libre, the influential Parisian theatr...
Category

1890s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

1892 illustrated program for Mirages, Henri-Gabriel Ibels for the Théâtre Libre
Located in PARIS, FR
In this 1892 illustrated program for Mirages, Henri-Gabriel Ibels, a key figure of the Nabis movement, extends the reach of modern art deep into the realm of performance. Created for...
Category

1890s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

1898 illustrated program by Maxime Dethomas - théâtre de l'oeuvre
By Maxime Dethomas
Located in PARIS, FR
This exceptional 1898 illustrated program by Maxime Dethomas was created for La Victoire, a five-act tragedy by Saint-Georges de Bouhélier, presented at the legendary Théâtre de l’Œu...
Category

1890s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Original 1895 illustrated program by Abel Truchet for La Fumée, puis la Flamme
By Francis Abel Truchet
Located in PARIS, FR
This original 1895 illustrated program, created by Abel Truchet for La Fumée, puis la Flamme, a play by Joseph Caraguel, stands as a testament to the radical spirit of Le Théâtre Lib...
Category

1890s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

1898 illustrated program by Alfredo Müller - Théâtre de l’Œuvre
By Alfredo Müller
Located in PARIS, FR
This rare 1898 illustrated program by the Italian-born artist Alfredo Müller captures the essence of Paris’s Symbolist theatre at the close of the 19th century. Issued for the fourth...
Category

1890s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

You May Also Like

Program for Theatre Libre Boubouroche Valet De Coeur.
By Henri Gabriel Ibels
Located in New York, NY
Program for Theatre Libre Boubouroche Valet De Coeur. Sixth program for Le Theatre Libre, four-color lithograph, 1892-1893. Ref: The Color Revolution 101: Artistes et Theatre d' Ava...
Category

Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Theatre Program for Les Fossiles
By Henri Gabriel Ibels
Located in New York, NY
Program for Les Fossiles. 29 November 1892. Second program for the 1892-1893 Theatre Libre season. Very light horizontal and vertical fold, otherwise in very good condition. Four-c...
Category

1890s Art Nouveau Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Hommage des Artistes à Picquart - Lithograph by Hermann Paul -1899
Located in Roma, IT
Hommage des artistes à Picquart is a Lithograph realized by Hermann Paul. Hand signed on the lower left corner. Passpartout included cm 49x32.5 Good condition. René Georges Herman...
Category

1890s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Le Rire - Vintage Comic Magazine - 1896
By Pierre Georges Jeanniot
Located in Roma, IT
Le Rire is a Comic Magazine published in December 1896, reproducing drawings by Charles Léandre. Signed, numbered and dated on the margins.
Category

Early 1900s Modern More Art

Materials

Lithograph

Original Jules Cheret Antique Poster Musee Grevin Paris 1900
By Jules Chéret
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Musee Grevin Avant La Lettre (Before Text), created in 1900, is one of the best known images by the great French artist, Jules Chéret. The poster advertises a show performance at the...
Category

Early 1900s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph

Original Jules Cheret Antique Poster Musee Grevin Paris 1900
By Jules Chéret
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Musee Grevin Avant La Lettre (Before Text), created in 1900, is one of the best known images by the great French artist, Jules Chéret. The poster advertises a show performance at the...
Category

Early 1900s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph