Emilienne d'Alençon is a significant 1896 work by the celebrated French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. This influential piece is classified as a print, specifically executed as a lithograph in black ink on a sheet of cream-colored velin paper. Created during the height of the fin-de-siècle, this lithograph exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s dedication to capturing the dynamic, often scandalous, social environment of Parisian nightlife between 1876 and 1900.
Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the performers, dancers, and personalities of Montmartre, and this portrait is an intimate study of Emilienne d'Alençon, one of the most famous dancers and courtesans of the Belle Époque. His sharp, observational style focuses on character rather than idealization, making the work a vital historical document of the era’s celebrity culture.
As a recognized master of graphic arts, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithograph medium to achieve highly effective, expressive lines, defining his subject with minimal detail but maximum psychological impact. The choice of simple black ink emphasizes the immediacy of the sketch-like quality, typical of the posters and commercial prints created during this time. This economy of form allowed him a freedom crucial to his signature style, solidifying his reputation as a key figure in modern graphic arts. The work, a key example among his prolific output of prints, captures the fleeting glamour of the stage performers he admired.
The original artwork, Emilienne d'Alençon, is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a primary example of late 19th-century French graphic arts. The lasting artistic and historical importance of the piece solidifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s reputation as a crucial chronicler of modern Parisian life. High-quality reproductions and fine art prints of this significant work, created before the turn of the century, are frequently made available to the public through digitized records and public domain initiatives, ensuring the accessibility of this historically vital documentation.
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