Emilienne d'Alecon and Mariquita of the Follies-Bergère

The influential Post-Impressionist master Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created Emilienne d'Alecon and Mariquita of the Follies-Bergère in 1893. This significant work, executed as a lithograph, exemplifies Lautrec's mastery of the printmaking medium and his commitment to documenting the vibrant yet often shadowed social life of fin-de-siècle Paris. The artist utilized the lithographic process to capture the swift, energetic lines required to render his subjects, often performers and dancers, with immediacy and psychological depth. This specific piece focuses on two key figures associated with the famed Parisian nightlife venue, the Folies-Bergère.

Toulouse-Lautrec was deeply embedded in the entertainment districts of Montmartre, and much of his output constitutes a visual chronicle of the era. He frequently chose figures like Émilienne d'Alençon, a celebrated courtesan and dancer, and Mariquita, a fixture of the Folies-Bergère, as his muses. The artist eschewed idealized representations, instead focusing on the distinctive personality and posture of his models. The rapid rise of celebrity culture in France during this period meant that prints like these served as both artistic documentation and popular media, quickly disseminating images of famous personalities to the public.

Classified as a fine art print, this lithograph captures a characteristic slice of Parisian modernity. Toulouse-Lautrec’s prolific use of this medium helped elevate the artistic print and the commercial poster to a recognized fine art form, making his works accessible to wider audiences. While prints of his famous dancers are widely reproduced today, allowing enthusiasts access to works often entering the public domain, this original 1893 lithograph holds significant historical value as an artifact of French culture. This important piece is housed in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.