Edmée Lescot (from Le Café Concert)

Edmée Lescot (from Le Café Concert) is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893, capturing the psychological nuance of a professional woman operating within the Parisian nightlife. This work is an exemplary application of the artist’s groundbreaking graphic techniques, combining brush, crayon, and spatter lithography, printed in a strong black ink on wove paper. The piece is highly valued as it represents the "only state," meaning the design was finalized by Toulouse-Lautrec upon this specific printing.

Toulouse-Lautrec was unmatched in his ability to document the vibrant, yet often stark, realities of the café-concert scene of the Belle Époque. His focus on women working in these public venues, such as performers and dancers, provided a powerful counter-narrative to romanticized portrayals. Rather than depicting Edmée Lescot as an idealized figure, the lithograph uses quick, energetic lines and atmospheric spatter effects to reveal an individual defined by her profession, a recurring theme throughout the artist’s mature output.

The technical innovations employed by Lautrec elevated the status of the commercial print, moving it into the realm of high art. The use of lithography allowed him to disseminate his observations widely. This important study of modern life and the medium of prints resides today in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Public domain availability often ensures that works documenting this crucial period in French visual culture remain accessible for study and appreciation.