Five Parts of the World & The Moon

This delightful page from Le Rire magazine showcases Lucien Métivet's signature wit in a sprawling survey of world dance traditions. Titled 'Les Cinq Parties du Monde et... La Lune' (The Five Parts of the World and... The Moon), the illustration presents a mock ethnographic study, complete with pseudo-scholarly subtitles and playful captions describing dances from ancient Egypt to Oceania, Persia to America. The top register presents an elaborate Egyptian frieze rendered in the style of ancient tomb paintings, depicting musicians and dancers performing 'astronomical dances' for the pharaoh. Below, smaller vignettes offer glimpses of dance traditions from India, Northern Africa, Persia, Turkestan, America, and Europe, each accompanied by Métivet's characteristically irreverent commentary. Métivet was among the most prolific contributors to Le Rire during its golden age, and this piece exemplifies his ability to combine genuine artistic skill with biting social observation. A charming document of Belle Époque attitudes toward the wider world, this illustration rewards close examination with its wealth of amusing details. Size: 12.0" x 17.5" Artist: Lucien Métivet Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear. Paper toning in accordance with the print's age. Marks/stains as per photo. Wear around the edges and minor paper loss might be present in some prints. Some illustrations may have writing or images on verso. Please refer to each print's image to get a better understanding of the condition.