A showcase of 1890’s burlesque posters

Burlesque appears to be making a comeback of sorts, so the timing of this series of posters for fun Gay Nineties style is certainly apropos.

Buzzfeed writer Mark Duffy seemed to stumble upon some potentially interesting symbolism in the lobster, which appears in a number of the posters. According to “Horrible Prettiness: Burlesque and American Culture”, by Robert Clyde Allen:

“Part of her allure is her power to turn the tables on those men who would attempt to possess her, to dominate them and reduce them to midgets, comatose old men, ducks, and lobsters.

And all while wearing a corset.