Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is a poster by the Impressionist artist Aubert's Steam Printing Works. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1879 poster, produced by Aubert’s Steam Printing Works, announces a triple bill at London’s Vaudeville Theatre on the Strand.
About this work
The poster was printed by a company called Aubert’s Steam Printing Works in 1879, using early printing tech to make theater ads fast and cheap.
This poster is packed with bold purple and green text on a faded beige background. It advertises two plays—*Home for Home* and *Two Roses*—with actor names listed in neat columns. At the bottom, *Our Domestics* is added as a follow-up show, along with more cast details. The design includes ornate borders and a mix of blocky and script fonts.
The poster was printed by a company called Aubert’s Steam Printing Works in 1879, using early printing tech to make theater ads fast and cheap. The layout looks like a mix of old-style theater flyers and mass-produced posters.
Check out Aubert's Steam Printing Works to see how they changed how posters were made.
Overview
This 1879 poster, produced by Aubert’s Steam Printing Works, announces a triple bill at London’s Vaudeville Theatre on the Strand. It promotes the comedies *Home for Home* and *Two Roses*—the latter a revival—followed by *Our Domestics*. The notice lists principal performers, including Henry Howe, W. Herbert, W. Hargreaves, David James and Sophie Larkin, and records the opening night of 13 September 1879.
Subject & Meaning
The printed notice functions as a commercial invitation, highlighting the light‑hearted nature of the three staged works. By naming the plays and their leading actors, the poster seeks to attract regular theatre‑goers and casual audiences alike, emphasizing the variety of comedic entertainment offered in a single evening.
Technique & Style
Printed on a pale beige sheet, the design relies on striking purple and green lettering set against ornamental borders. A combination of block capitals and cursive scripts organizes the information into tidy columns, while the use of bold colour contrasts reflects the emerging capabilities of steam‑driven lithography, allowing rapid, inexpensive production of eye‑catching advertisements.
History & Provenance
Created by Aubert’s Steam Printing Works, a firm noted for pioneering fast, low‑cost theatrical advertising in the late nineteenth century, the poster exemplifies the shift from hand‑crafted flyers to mechanically reproduced ephemera. Its survival provides a rare glimpse into the marketing practices of Victorian London’s West End theatres.
Context
The Vaudeville Theatre, situated on the Strand, was a popular venue for contemporary comedies and revivals during the 1870s. The inclusion of *Two Roses*—a revival by James Albery—alongside newer works reflects the era’s programming strategy of mixing familiar successes with fresh material to sustain audience interest.
Artist & collection
Artist
This printing outfit cranked out the late-1800s version of clickbait: bold colors, tiny performers, and titles like *Crazed* or *Ours* that promised drama.
















