Louis Tauzin and the Champenois Printing House

Louis Tauzin (1842-1915), a student of the painter Oscar Gué (1809-1877), was a prolific artist who exhibited regularly at the Salon starting in 1867. In collaboration with the Champenois & Cie printing house, he created this chromolithograph to mark the construction and inauguration of the Eiffel Tower in 1889.

The Champenois printing firm, renowned for the exceptional quality of its prints, was one of the major players during the golden age of the illustrated poster at the end of the 19th century, collaborating with the leading poster artists of the era to promote the wonders of Parisian modernity.

The Eiffel Tower and the 1889 Universal Exhibition

This poster depicts the Eiffel Tower from a slightly elevated viewpoint on the right bank of the Seine. To the left, the dome of the Invalides is visible, and to the right, the Palais de l'Industrie, which then occupied the Champ de Mars. The movement of boats sailing below adds life to the scene, reflecting the bustle of the river.

The Musée d'Orsay holds a version of this chromolithograph enhanced with sequins. These highlights evoke the illuminations that lit up the Eiffel Tower and the windows of the Palais de l'Industrie: every evening, gas lamps protected by opaline globes glorified Gustave Eiffel's marvel. The beacon at the top of the tower projected blue, white, and red lights over the city.

Built between 1887 and 1889, the structure reaches a height of 312 meters. At the time of its inauguration, it was undoubtedly the tallest building in the world and the highlight of the 1889 Universal Exhibition, which spanned from the Invalides to the Trocadéro. Initially intended to be temporary, like most buildings constructed for the occasion, the structure's success was such that it was ultimately preserved, becoming the timeless symbol of Paris.