Description of the work: Large original drawing in pencil enhanced with watercolor, signed Henri Lanos in the lower left corner, representing the banquet of mayors on September 29, 1900. The composition, particularly rich and lively, unfolds in several scenes integrated into a dynamic layout: • in the center, an enormous banquet hall decorated with flags, filled with a dense crowd of guests, with an official platform where representatives and organizers are seated; • in the foreground, several groups of seated participants, treated with finesse and a sense of portraiture, evoking the conviviality and solemnity of the event; • on the sides, ancillary scenes showing the arrival of guests, notably by car and bicycle, illustrating the modernity and excitement of the Belle Époque; • panels indicating regions (including Calvados) highlight the national representation of French municipalities. The drawing stands out for its precise, lively, and expressive line, characteristic of reportage drawing and press illustration around 1900. The sober and controlled watercolor highlights add depth and readability without weighing down the composition. Together, they form a first-rate graphic document, both an artistic work and a historical testimony. ⸻ ?️ Description of the historical event: The banquet of mayors on September 29, 1900, fits into the context of the Belle Époque, a period marked by a strong republican spirit and a desire to strengthen ties between local communities and the state. These grand banquets brought together mayors from all over France, providing a moment of meeting, exchange, and celebration of communal unity. They also constituted strong symbolic events, highlighting the essential role of local elected officials in the political and social life of the Third Republic. Henri Lanos captures with great accuracy the scale of this meeting, the diversity of participants, and the festive and official atmosphere that characterized this type of event at the end of the 19th century. ⸻ ✍️ Biography of the artist: Henri Lanos: Henri Lanos is a French draftsman and illustrator active at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. He is primarily known for his press drawings and event illustrations devoted to the political, institutional, and social life of his time. He belongs to the tradition of Belle Époque illustrator-reporters, whose role was to capture great public events through drawing before the widespread use of press photography. His style is characterized by a sure and energetic line, excellent readability of complex scenes, and a keen sense of observation of attitudes and physiognomies. Original works by Henri Lanos are today relatively rare and sought after for their strong documentary and historical value, particularly when they represent official events of the Third Republic. ⸻ ? Technical characteristics: • Artist: Henri Lanos • Technique: pencil drawing enhanced with watercolor • Signature: signed in the lower left corner • Subject: Banquet of mayors, September 29, 1900 • Dimensions of the drawing: 47 × 33 cm • Condition: very good overall condition • Framing: supplied with its frame • Note: some visible water stains on the blue mat, without affecting the drawing. Recommended products Provided by Belle Peinture Seine Paris Quai Aquarelle 1950 Notre Dame Bouquiniste Ancien See the product Recommended products Provided by Belle Peinture Aquarelle 1900 Boat Art Fishing To Identify Sea Ocean Ancien See the product Beautiful Watercolor Detail Painting 1900 To Identify Ancien Noble Bourgeois Signed See the product Belle Peinture Seine Paris Quai Aquarelle 1950 Boat Art Barge To Identify See the product Beautiful Drawing 1950 Watercolor Painting Village Art Brut Naive To Identify Ancien See the product Very Beautiful watercolor painting Paper 2010 Corsica Sea Beach To Identify Art Bath See the product Very Beautiful watercolor painting Paper 2010 Corsica Sea Port To Identify Art Bath See the product Recommended products Provided by Painting Paper Gouache Wedding Ceremony Church Hotel Drawing Watercolor 1960 Art See the product Type: Watercolor Country of origin: France Style: 1940 Genre: Art Deco Characteristics: On Paper Theme: Genre scene