“Gainsbourg et Birkin: The First & Last Video Show”, Original Japanese Promotional Poster 1996, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) G292
This is an original Japanese B2 promotional poster produced in 1996 for Gainsbourg et Birkin: The First & Last Video Show, a special Japanese video-screening event devoted to Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin.
The programme paired two major concert recordings: Gainsbourg’s late-period performance at Le Zénith in Paris and Birkin’s Casino de Paris concert featuring songs closely associated with their celebrated creative partnership.
Event background
The first programme was:
Serge Gainsbourg — Le Zénith de Gainsbourg
Recorded in France in 1988, this 85-minute concert documents Gainsbourg during the final phase of his performing career, following the release of You’re Under Arrest.
The poster advertises 20 songs, including:
You’re Under Arrest
Sorry Angel
Valse de Melody
Harley David Son of a Bitch
La Javanaise
Bonnie and Clyde
Couleur Café
The second programme was:
Jane Birkin — Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais… Concert intégral au Casino de Paris
Recorded in France in 1991, the 98-minute concert presents Birkin performing a programme largely drawn from songs written or composed by Gainsbourg.
The poster advertises 26 songs, including:
Ex-Fan des Sixties
Baby Alone in Babylone
La Chanson de Prévert
Ballade de Johnny-Jane
Quoi
Valse de Melody
Di Doo Dah
Presented together in Japan in 1996, the two recordings offered a retrospective portrait of Gainsbourg and Birkin’s individual careers and enduring musical connection.
Poster design
This exceptional Japanese design is divided vertically into two intensely saturated colour fields.
The left half is printed in vivid orange and devoted to Serge Gainsbourg. The right half uses a brilliant hot pink for Jane Birkin.
Across the top, the event title:
“GAINSBOURG ET BIRKIN
THE FIRST & LAST VIDEO SHOW”
appears in white dot-matrix lettering resembling an illuminated concert or electronic display board.
Gainsbourg is depicted at left in a bold black line illustration, wearing dark glasses and holding a cigarette between his hands. The pose captures his familiar combination of detachment, elegance, and cultivated provocation.
Birkin appears at right holding a microphone, rendered with her characteristic fringe and understated stage presence. The two illustrations overlap across the dividing line, visually uniting the otherwise separate concert programmes.
A small star-and-letter monogram appears beneath the Birkin illustration, although the artist is not explicitly identified in the printed credits.
The individual concert details, running times, formats, and selected songs are arranged in the same pixelated typeface, reinforcing the poster’s distinctive mid-1990s graphic character.
The lower credit line reads:
“THE FIRST & LAST VIDEO SHOW DISTRIBUÉ PAR MASAYUKI KAWAKATSU, KENZO SAEKI ET MASAKO YAGIHASHI”
This identifies the Japanese presentation with cultural critic Masayuki Kawakatsu, musician and producer Kenzo Saeki, and Masako Yagihashi.
The result is a rare and visually arresting piece of Japanese music-event ephemera, with strong appeal to collectors of Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin, French popular music, concert posters, and 1990s Japanese graphic design.
Condition
Excellent condition. A highly attractive example retaining exceptionally vivid orange and pink colour, crisp black linework, clear typography, and superb overall display impact.
There are only light signs of age and handling consistent with an original Japanese promotional poster from this period.
Reference: G292.
Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.
This is an original Japanese promotional poster produced for the 1996 screening event, not a reproduction or reprint.
It is now approximately 30 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
