Louis Legrand, Cover for the series Au Cap de la Chèvre, 1892

Gustave Pellet

Finding himself in financial difficulty, Gustave Pellet (1859–1919) opened a little shop in 1886 to sell off his private collection of prestigious books. He gradually specialised in the production and sale of contemporary prints and books illustrated by printmakers. His target clientele consisted of private print collectors and bibliophiles from the social elite.

Pellet had a name as an adventurous dealer, who took certain risks by representing young and unproven artists. In the space of eight years he published over 800 deluxe prints by artists like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Signac.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Woman Combing her Hair, the Hairdo (Femme qui se peigne, la coiffure) from the series Elles, 1896 — Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, *Woman Combing her Hair, the Hairdo (Femme qui se peigne, la coiffure) from the series Elles*, 1896

Colour lithography

Mellerio described how ‘colour is spread out in a victorious manner’ in Pellet’s shop. His most prestigious colour project was the print series Elles by Toulouse-Lautrec.

Pellet was only too keen to associate his name with the marvellous series: he personally signed and numbered the eleven colour lithographs with their intimate brothel scenes and had the high-quality printing paper watermarked with his name.

Erotic specialty

Pellet focused on a titillating niche in the print world by specialising in erotic prints designed by avant-garde artists. He opted in particular for the risqué, and in some cases downright subversive etchings by the printmakers Félicien Rops and Louis Legrand.

The bond between the dealer and his artists went so far that he became close friends with them, sold everything they produced, and even compiled their oeuvre catalogues.

Gustave Pellet

Colour lithography

Erotic specialty

Further reading