The moon is smiling, and the woman in the clamshell below it has the sea foaming around her.
Sydney Day, The Printer, of Sydney, Australia, lithographed the poster to advertise the vaudeville illusion act of Jean Hugard. Hugard was born John Gerard Rodney Boyce in Toowoomba, Queensland. He moved to the United States in 1916 and worked the American vaudeville circuits from 1916 to 1918, with "Birth of the Sea Nymph" as one of his signature feature attractions.
He later owned and performed in a magic theatre at Luna Park, Coney Island, from 1919 to 1929. The McCord Stewart Museum holds an impression (accession M2014.128.232).
On the poster
A semi-draped woman reclines inside an open clamshell. dark-green plant forms with red flower heads rise from the surf on either side, and white water jets arc against a deep navy sky under a smiling full moon. Bold red type outlined in yellow across the top reads "HUGARD'S FASCINATING ILLUSION". Flowing red script at the foot names the act: "The Birth of the Sea Nymph".
About this print
A digitally restored reproduction, printed on 200gsm Enhanced Matte Fine Art paper with pigment inks.
