Emilienne d'Alençon

Emilienne d'Alençon is a striking lithograph in black created by the renowned French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This print, produced toward the end of the 1876 to 1900 period, captures the energy and specific characters of the Parisian fin de siècle. Toulouse-Lautrec was a master chronicler of bohemian life, specializing in the medium of the print, which allowed him to disseminate his observations of theater, nightlife, and celebrity culture widely.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s approach to the lithograph redefined the medium's role in fine art. Unlike the detailed realism of traditional illustration, his technique emphasized broad, fluid lines and stark contrasts, capturing the essence of his subjects with psychological depth rather than mere photographic representation. The subject of this particular work, Emilienne d'Alençon, was a celebrated figure in the Parisian entertainment world, famous as a dancer and courtesan who captivated audiences at venues like the Folies Bergère and the Casino de Paris.

Toulouse-Lautrec uses the power of the black and white medium to focus attention purely on her form and demeanor, reflecting his ability to transform celebrity portraits into high-art statements. As part of his influential body of graphic work, this piece demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec's lasting legacy in both poster design and modern printmaking. Works like Emilienne d'Alençon are crucial documents of late 19th-century French visual culture. This significant example of the artist’s graphic production is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it is often viewed by scholars and the public. As a historical artwork from this important period, high-resolution images of many of these master prints are now frequently made available for study within the public domain.