Valses de Vienne – Georges Dola

Artist: Georges Dola (pseudonym of Edmond Vernier, 1872–1950)
Date: Circa 1933
Medium: Original Color Lithograph
Dimensions: 49″ H x 32″ W

This magnificent large-scale theater poster, titled Valses de Vienne (Vienna Waltzes), is a premiere example of French Art Deco graphic design by the acclaimed artist Georges Dola. Published in 1933 by Editions Max Eschig in Paris, the lithograph was commissioned to promote the French debut of the operetta at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin. Dola, who was renowned for his “sobriety in tonalities” and mastery of volume, captures the romantic essence of 19th-century Vienna through a sophisticated 1930s lens.

The artwork depicts the fictionalized rivalry and eventual reconciliation between Johann Strauss I and his son, Johann Strauss II, over the creation of the world-famous “Blue Danube” waltz. Dola’s composition utilizes dynamic, stylized figures and elegant typography, hallmarks of the era’s transition from traditional theater art to modern commercial advertising. As an original vintage lithograph rather than a reproduction, this piece represents a significant historical document of Parisian musical culture during the interwar period. Its monumental size and vibrant condition make it an ideal statement piece for a grand interior or a serious collection of original Affiche art.