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PAUL COLIN (1892-1986)
129 • KATHERINE DUNHAM. 1949.
58
3
/
4
x38
1
/
2
inches, 149x97
3
/
4
cm.
Condition B+ / B: creases and abrasions in image; repaired tears at edges; paper is separating from linen at
corners; pin-holes in corners.
Katherine Dunham toured the world as a dancer continuously from 1945 to 1961. During those years
she performed in Paris on four separate occasions; 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1953. Colin designed three
posters for Dunham of which this is considered to be the rarest. Although previously undated, we
know the poster is from 1949 based on a February 11, 1949 New York Times notice written by Art
Buchwald, “The Theatre National Palais de Chaillot . . . will be the setting of Katherine Dunham’s
return visit to Paris. The dancer and her troupe have made a successful tour of Europe and will open at
the Palais, February 17, for a three week engagement.” On January 9, 1953, the same theatre was
home to the Parisian premiere of her seminal work “Southland.” Colin’s other two posters for Dun-
ham are accomplished with more of a free-handed drawing style, but this image presents Dunham
with the full respect of Colin’s talents affording her the same graphic privileges of other Parisian per-
formers who Colin favored. He utilizes one of his favorite devices, the flat tones of the background
split into two different shades along a diagonal line. His play with light and shadow, and the whiteness
of the inside of the dancer’s dress, focus the viewer’s attention on her legs.
[2,000/3,000]