Vintage Framed Republic Period Starlets Advertisement

In tandem with the growing number of newspapers and periodicals, advertisements proliferated during China’s Republic era. Mixing Western and traditional visual styles, this early 20th century poster depicts three well-known starlets of the day relaxing in a garden setting. Although their garments reference traditional clothing, the figures reflect the fashion trends of the Roaring Twenties by their marcel-waved hairstyles, movie siren pouts, and the casual slouch of modern flappers. Still vibrantly colored, the ad demonstrates the sophisticated printing methods available to commercial artists of the time.