Jane Avril

Jane Avril is a celebrated lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. This vibrant print, executed using five colors on machine wove paper, captures the essence of the Parisian fin de siècle entertainment culture. Toulouse-Lautrec, known for documenting the intimate and often chaotic world of cabaret and dance halls in Montmartre, frequently focused his keen eye on the working women who embodied the era's restless energy. This piece is a primary example of his influential poster art that revolutionized advertising aesthetics and blurred the lines between commercial graphic design and fine art prints.

The subject is the celebrated dancer, Jane Avril, known for her unconventional, energetic performances and distinctive figure. Toulouse-Lautrec eschewed the idealized portraits of women common in contemporary art, opting instead to provide candid, often psychologically deep observations of his subjects, placing her dynamic presence at the center of the composition. He utilized bold outlines and flat fields of color derived from his study of Japanese woodblock prints, adapting these techniques to the demanding lithograph medium. The sophisticated use of multiple colors adds depth and visual punch, crucial for prints designed for public display. This important work documenting the dancers of the Parisian stage is a highlight within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a historical document of both modern printmaking and the cultural milieu of the 1890s.