Lot 35: GASTON SIMOES DE FONSECA (1874-?) 12e. SALON DE L'AUTOMOBILE ET DU CYCLE. 1910.

40 1/2x28 3/4 inches. E. L Martinez, Paris.
Condition B+: vertical and horizontal folds.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, de Fonseca settled in Paris where he had a successful career highlighted by medals won at the Salon des Artistes Francaise and the Legion of Honor. Like most of his honorable colleagues, he tried his hand at poster designing when it was fashionable for artists to do so. His talent is clear in this image. In this highly decorative and imaginatively colored piece the Grand Palais is bathed in electric light, while an unusual traffic jam, leading to the Alexandre III bridge, proves how successful the event was supposed to be. L'Automobile no. 40.