At the Varieties: Mlle. Lender et Brasseur (Aux variétiés: Mlle. Lender et Brasseur), created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893, captures a scene from the vibrant, often ephemeral world of Parisian entertainment. Executed as a lithograph in olive green, this work exemplifies the artist's dedication to documenting the figures and energy of the Variétiés, the popular music halls and cabarets of Montmartre. The specific subject references two recognizable performers, Mlle. Lender and Brasseur, who were key figures in the late 19th-century scene that captivated French audiences.
Toulouse-Lautrec was a master of the graphic arts, utilizing the commercial medium of the lithograph to achieve both subtlety and graphic power. This particular print, dating from the period 1876 to 1900, showcases the artist’s distinctive style: sharp observation, minimal yet expressive lines, and an unconventional cropping that suggests the spontaneity of a snapshot. His choice of a near-monochromatic olive green palette imbues the scene with a specific, atmospheric mood, departing from the typical vibrant color schemes often associated with poster art of the time. The immediacy and accessibility of these French prints made them crucial vehicles for modernist artistic ideas, allowing Toulouse-Lautrec to distribute his vision widely among the public.
The piece is a quintessential product of French culture during the Belle Époque, a period characterized by rapid societal change and a fascination with urban nightlife. Toulouse-Lautrec deliberately rejected academic artistic conventions, choosing instead to focus on candid observations of performers, patrons, and marginalized figures. This dedication to recording the complex realities of life established him as a key Post-Impressionist chronicler. This lithograph, like many of the artist’s most famous works, is now housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a primary example of how the artist translated his highly individualistic vision into distributed prints.
Important: ArtBee makes no warranties about the copyright status of this artwork. To the best of our knowledge, based on information from the source museum, we believe this work is in the public domain.
You are responsible for determining the rights status and securing any permissions needed for your use. Copyright status may vary by jurisdiction. See our License & Usage page and Terms of Service for details.