Frontispiece, from Yvette Guilbert

The Frontispiece, from Yvette Guilbert, is a significant lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898. This fine print exemplifies the artist's dedication to graphic arts during the late 19th century. Technically, the image was produced using the crayon transfer process and is rendered in a highly specific purple or violet ink. The impression is laid upon cream wove paper and has been precisely hinged at the upper corners to a heavier, complementary gray-brown wove backing sheet, indicative of its original presentation quality.

Toulouse-Lautrec was a towering figure in French visual culture, known for his penetrating and often satirical depictions of the Belle Époque's theaters, dance halls, and celebrity personalities. Although the precise subject is the frontispiece for an album dedicated to the famous cabaret star Yvette Guilbert, the print itself demonstrates Lautrec's mastery of line and expressive portraiture. The execution shows the artistic refinement of a work intended for a published album rather than a large commercial poster.

The circulation of this print across borders is noted by its production history: it was printed by the Westminster Press and subsequently published by the Ernest Brown & Phillips. This highlights the international reach of Lautrec's innovative printmaking techniques. Many images from this period, particularly influential prints like this one, become widely accessible today, with some historical works entering the public domain. This exceptional work, illustrating the French master’s graphic style, is an important holding within the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.