Theo, R. | The creator of pantomime silhouettes

Theo, R.

R. Theo. Gentleman Silhouettiste. Créateur des Pantomimes Silhouettes. Paris: Imp. Crevel, ca. 1890

Tinted lithograph poster (32 x 23 1/2 in.; 811 x 596 mm). Signed in the stone lower left P. Dubois and with his imprint in artist's imprint in right margin, inset portrait of Theo signed H. Fouilloux; light fold and other creases, with tiny loss at central intersecting folds. Laid down on linen.

Theo attests, in French, that "All my figures are executed with hands"—although he does not claim that only his own hands are involved in making the amazing silhouettes depicted on the poster.

In addition to being a performing hand-shadowist, Theo was the author of a major work in the field, Les silhouettes à la main. Avec 37 figures de pose et 21 patrons d'accessoires (Paris: Guyot, ca. 1880s).