 His moment came in December 1894, when he was asked, on very short notice, to create a poster for a new play, "Gismonda", starring Sarah Bernhardt.His poster, a full-length portrait of Bernardt in costume against a background of Byzantine mosaic and sinuous lettering, became an immediate classic of Art Nouveau.Bernhardt signed him to a five-year contract, and, with each successive play and poster, his fame increased.