L'échelle ; Le Balcon - Programme pour le théâtre de l'oeuvre 1898

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 spectacle of the Théâtre de l’Œuvre’s 1897–1898 season, the program announces two plays: L’Échelle, by Gustave Vanzype, and Le Balcon, by Norwegian dramatist Gunnar Heiberg, translated into French by Count Prozor. Both works reflect the era's fascination with psychological nuance, emotional tension, and moral ambiguity—ideals echoed vividly in Müller’s haunting illustration.

Müller’s lithograph is a masterwork of mood: a dimly lit balcony scene rendered in velvety blacks and muted greens. At the forefront, a couple embraces in a moment of tenderness or desperation—while a shadowy third figure looms in the background, casting an air of quiet menace. A single table with flickering candlelight completes the composition, evoking intimacy, secrecy, and theatrical symbolism in equal measure.

The program is not merely a utilitarian object, but a full expression of the Œuvre’s mission to integrate avant-garde visual art with cutting-edge drama. Founded by Lugné-Poe in 1893, the Théâtre de l’Œuvre was a crucible of European Symbolism, premiering works by Ibsen, Maeterlinck, and Strindberg, often accompanied by visual contributions from leading artists of the time such as Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard.

Alfredo Müller, though less widely known today, was deeply embedded in the Parisian art world, often associated with the Nabis and the Symbolist press. This program is a testament to his sensitivity as a draughtsman and his ability to translate emotional tension into compelling lithographic language.

Few examples of these ephemeral theatrical documents survive in such well-preserved condition. Today, this illustrated program is not only a prized object for collectors of poster and theatre history but also a poetic relic of a Paris that merged art, literature, and performance with rare intensity.

Theater - Avant-Garde - France

Ref : Aitken 97

Good condition