Rajah thumbnail 1
Rajah thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Rajah

Poster
1897 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a poster advertising coffee by the Belgian artist Henri Georges Meunier (1873-1922). Belgian artists, inspired by French work, began designing commercial posters in the mid-1890s. Many advertised coffee and cocoa, products of Belgium’s imperial trade. Meunier, an illustrator and printmaker, started designing posters in 1895. This poster demonstrates how quickly artists and printers learned the new skills of colour lithography (printing from stone). Before the 1890s, no printers in Belgium had adequate equipment for colour-printing large sheets.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRajah (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph on paper
Brief description
Henri Meunier. Poster for Rajah coffee, Belgian, 1897.
Physical description
Poster
Dimensions
  • Height: 650mm
  • Width: 805mm
Style
Gallery label
Poster: Rajah 1897 Belgian artists of the 1890s followed the lead of French designers in using lithography for commercial posters. Coffee, a product of Belgium's colonial trade, was a common subject matter. Depicted in a simple version of the Art Nouveau style, the female figure seen here suggests glamour and decadence. Belgium, Brussles; designed by Henri Georges Meunier; printed by Gouweloos Colour Lithograph on paper Museum number E.440-1939 Given by Mr Bertram Evans
Credit line
Given by Bertram Evans
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a poster advertising coffee by the Belgian artist Henri Georges Meunier (1873-1922). Belgian artists, inspired by French work, began designing commercial posters in the mid-1890s. Many advertised coffee and cocoa, products of Belgium’s imperial trade. Meunier, an illustrator and printmaker, started designing posters in 1895. This poster demonstrates how quickly artists and printers learned the new skills of colour lithography (printing from stone). Before the 1890s, no printers in Belgium had adequate equipment for colour-printing large sheets.
Bibliographic references
  • Greenhalgh, Paul (Ed.), Art Nouveau: 1890-1914 . London: V&A Publications, 2000
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1939, published under the Authority of the Ministry of Education, London, 1950
Collection
Accession number
E.440-1939

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 3, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest