At the Moulin Rouge, La Goulue and her Sister (Au Moulin Rouge, La Goulue et sa sœur)

At the Moulin Rouge, La Goulue and her Sister (Au Moulin Rouge, La Goulue et sa sœur) is a pivotal lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1892. This early masterwork of graphic art captures the electric atmosphere and often harsh realities of the nightlife in fin-de-siècle Paris, specifically documenting the famous cabaret, the Moulin Rouge, in Montmartre. Toulouse-Lautrec, an undeniable master of the print medium, utilized the lithographic technique to its full potential, employing stark outlines, flattened color planes, and dramatic cropping to achieve a visual immediacy suitable for both advertising posters and fine art prints.

The subjects of the work are the celebrated dancer Louise Weber, known professionally as La Goulue (The Glutton), and her companion, often identified as her sister. La Goulue was the undisputed queen of the French Cancan and a defining cultural icon of the period, known for her flamboyant presence and suggestive performances. Toulouse-Lautrec’s profound interest lay not only in the stage persona but also in documenting the entertainers’ lives away from the spotlight. In this composition, Toulouse-Lautrec frames the women within the bustling, artificially lit environment of the dance hall, using the stylized forms and bold contrasts characteristic of his groundbreaking approach to modern art.

Dating specifically to 1892, this lithograph stands as a crucial record of late nineteenth-century French culture and modern urban experience. Toulouse-Lautrec’s work marked a significant shift in art history, demonstrating how commercial prints could convey complex narrative and psychological depth. This powerful impression, representing the artist’s unique graphic style, resides in the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. As many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s original prints have entered the public domain, the imagery from At the Moulin Rouge, La Goulue and her Sister continues to influence contemporary graphic design and serves as a key reference point for understanding the history of both poster art and Post-Impressionist prints.