In the Wings of the Folies-Bergere: Mrs. Lona Barrison with Her Manager and Husband

In the Wings of the Folies-Bergere: Mrs. Lona Barrison with Her Manager and Husband is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. Classified as a photomechanical process, this work captures the complex, often transactional atmosphere of the Parisian entertainment scene, a central focus of the artist's production during the French Fin de Siècle.

Toulouse-Lautrec was keenly interested in documenting the unvarnished realities behind the glamour of the cabaret and music hall. Rather than depicting performers under the stage lights, the artist often situated himself backstage, emphasizing the quieter, more vulnerable moments experienced by the entertainers and those who managed them. Here, Mrs. Lona Barrison, a notable music hall personality, is shown with her husband and manager. The composition focuses on their intense, private interaction within the cluttered environment of the dressing room or wings, capturing the tension that underpinned professional and personal relationships in the theatrical world.

While the artist is most celebrated for his innovative color lithographs, the use of a photomechanical process for this piece demonstrates the era’s rapidly evolving techniques for mass-producing and disseminating images related to the world of spectacle. The resulting visual clarity allows Toulouse-Lautrec to emphasize the figures and their subtle body language, which are characteristic of his approach to character studies.

This print provides a critical glimpse into French culture and the social dynamics prevalent during the period 1876 to 1900. The artist’s commitment to capturing the modern, fleeting moments of Parisian life, often disseminated through readily reproducible prints, solidified his legacy as the essential chronicler of his era. This remarkable image is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where its historical importance ensures its continued study and accessibility, often through public domain initiatives.