Although exotic animal acts seem to belong more properly in the circus than in the music hall, records show that these popular stages hosted menageries to rival Noah’s. Along with the expected lions and tigers, audiences could see trained elephants, bears, monkeys, cats, dogs, rats, seals, and pigeons. Here, Chéret surrounds a hefty snake charmer with her serpentine charges and letters that wriggle as well.
Imp. J. Chéret, Paris
literature: Chéret, 96; Broido, 82; Maindron, 79; Spectacle, 1053; PAI-LXXXIX, 194