We’ve looked at some art deco styled publications over the years, usually Paris Plaisirs. Last year in Lisbon we picked up another magazine of that ilk—the above copy of Le Frou-Frou published today in 1911. The title translates from French literally as “frilly.” It isn’t quite as frilly as Paris Plaisirs, but it was inexpensive so we grabbed it. Because it appeared during the upswing of classic U.S. pulp magazines (which began around 1896), we think of it as an interesting addendum to what was happening across the Atlantic.
The cover of this issue, which is in pristine condition by the way, looks to be signed V. Mégeeres or V. Mégüres. Or maybe the first initial is an “N”. Whatever, we can’t locate an artist with any of those names, or anything similar. We like the illustration, though, of a woman beset by two gents who both have top hats and monocles. It’s her duty at this point to say something risqué that makes both their monocles pop out.
Beyond the cover, there are eight pages of humorous stories by authors like Jean Gravigny and Victorien du Saussay, and many pages of cartoons. It’s all signed, but unfortunately we can read only the scrawl of Jack Abeillé, who was fairly well known in his day. The others consigned themselves to oblivion with their artful but illegible script. That’s the way it goes sometimes. If we learn anything about them we’ll add it here later. Au revoir jusqu’à demain.
