Vintage poster may be a banner way to start an art collection. And the Chicago Center for the Print, which only a year ago expanded to include such works, is on a roll, unfurling vintage advertising posters from the 1890s to the onset of World War II.
Officially, ”A Toast to the Vintage Poster,” an exhibit featuring 200 to 300 prints, will open May 8, but posters are always on hand for those wanting a sneak preview.
Spotlighting French, German, Italian and Scandinavian posters, the exhibit will include lithographs of works by artists from Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec to Leonetto Cappiello, regarded by many as the father of modern advertising.
”A good proportion of the posters are (advertisements) for wine and spirits, which gives us the title of the exhibit,” said David Grossfeld, co- owner of the gallery at 1509 W. Fullerton. ”But they encompass all types of goods, from cigarettes to soda pop.”
Full-size posters start at about $400, which makes it a more affordable way to build a collection. Of course, big spenders are welcome, too. ”Salon Descent,” by Toulouse-Lautrec is the most valuable poster in the show at about $75,000. For information, call 312-477-1585.