Calendrier Belle Jardinière 1896

This rare and exquisite 1896 calendar by Swiss-born French illustrator Eugène Grasset, created for the Parisian department store La Belle Jardinière, is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau design. Comprising twelve individual lithographs—one for each month—the Calendrier Belle Jardinière exemplifies Grasset’s pioneering role in the decorative arts at the turn of the century.

Each page of the calendar features a unique allegorical female figure representing the spirit and essence of the corresponding month, adorned with stylized seasonal motifs, flora, and fashion. Grasset’s refined linear aesthetic and ornate detail reflect his background in medieval and Byzantine-inspired design, while his compositions anticipate the modernity of early 20th-century illustration.

Published during the golden age of French advertising and luxury printmaking, this calendar was not merely functional—it was a statement of taste. Its poetic fusion of symbolism, typography, and decorative illustration elevated commercial ephemera to the level of fine art.

Complete sets of the Calendrier Belle Jardinière are exceedingly rare and highly prized by collectors of Art Nouveau, graphic design, and 19th-century illustration. Grasset’s work here stands not only as a celebration of the seasons, but also as a landmark in the evolution of graphic arts in the Belle Époque.

Department Stores - Advertising - France

12 sheets corresponding to each month

Printed by G. De Malherbe in Paris

Good condition, slight dirt