Emma Calvé is a potent 1898 color lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901. This print exemplifies the late 19th-century French master’s command over the demanding medium of lithography. Created on tan wove paper, the composition utilizes bold linear outlines and carefully modulated color blocks characteristic of the artist’s work documenting Parisian nightlife and theatrical performances.
The subject of the piece is Emma Calvé (1858-1942), the internationally celebrated French operatic soprano, particularly famous for her portrayal of Carmen. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently immortalized the stars of the stage and music hall, using his graphic art to elevate transient performance moments into lasting cultural documents. This work, created late in his career, reflects his deep and observational engagement with the performers and celebrities of Belle Époque France. The choice of the color lithograph as a medium allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to efficiently capture expression and costume details while also enabling the wide distribution of his images as fine art prints and posters.
Classified as a print, this valuable work highlights the artist’s pioneering role in the history of commercial and fine graphic arts. Today, high-quality images of this piece, along with many other important prints by Toulouse-Lautrec, are often available through public domain collections, ensuring its enduring scholarly study. This significant work remains housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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