Cecy Loftus

“Cecy Loftus” is a definitive print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. This impression is a crayon and spatter lithograph, utilizing a unique and highly textural printing process executed in dark green ink on mounted china paper. Classified as the "only state," this piece represents the definitive artistic realization of the portrait, showcasing the artist’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of graphic technique during the fin-de-siècle.

The subject is Cecy Loftus (1876-1943), a celebrated British music hall performer and mimic who enjoyed popularity in Paris during the Belle Époque. Toulouse-Lautrec was intensely focused on documenting the women who formed the core of Parisian nightlife and entertainment, capturing their professional personae and inherent charisma through his rapid, observational technique. The use of crayon allows Toulouse-Lautrec to capture the expressiveness of the subject with immediacy, while the spatter technique adds a granular texture characteristic of his experimental prints.

Classified as a print, Cecy Loftus showcases Toulouse-Lautrec’s skill in exploiting the commercial and artistic possibilities of graphic media. His production of such high-quality prints was instrumental in elevating lithography to a respected fine art form in the late 19th century. This significant work, a vital document of the era’s celebrated women, is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural importance, the underlying work is now considered public domain, allowing for wider scholarly access.