Jules Chéret was a French artist at the turn of the 20th century best known for his lithographic Belle Époque posters. After establishing his own lithography firm, Chéret found the freedom to experiment with innovative printing techniques and a style that strayed from Victorian conventions toward Rococo-inspired imagery, influencing Alphonse Mucha and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. His sustained influence led to his being dubbed “the father of the modern poster.”