Bal Masque Poster by Jules Chéret (1896)

The masquerades of the nineteenth century were popular in the bohemian lifestyle often sought after by artists and designers of the Art Nouveau style. The anonymity of these events was often accompanied by a sensual atmosphere and allowed more freedom than formal dancing events. They are the olden-day equivalent to todays nightclubs.

The posters made to advertise these events are influential to todays graphic designers because—like much of the Art Nouveau style—they were done for the first time. Posters were not common before the victorian era; before the late nineteenth century they were not commonly associated with social events, and never portrayed women having fun.

Source(s):
Meggs' History of Graphic Design pages 195-199
http://books.google.ca/books?id=rWsu1NvxdrUC&lpg=RA1-PA17&ots=_y9J_CCdeE...
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/472127/poster
http://www.dropbears.com/a/art/biography/Jules_Cheret.html
http://www.artrepublic.com/biographies/205-jules-cheret.html