Linger, longer, loo, plate seven from Yvette Guilbert

Linger, longer, loo, plate seven from Yvette Guilbert by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901), executed in 1898, is a significant example of his masterful draftsmanship within the medium of lithography. This particular impression is rendered using crayon lithography in a rich violet or purple hue upon cream wove paper, highlighting the artist's inventive approach to color. The piece was printed by the Westminster Press and subsequently published by Ernest Brown & Phillips, indicating its place in later 20th-century English editions drawn from the original 1898 French design.

Toulouse-Lautrec dedicated a famous series of prints to the celebrated cabaret singer Yvette Guilbert, whose distinctive stage presence and long black gloves captured the artist’s imagination. This composition, characteristic of the era of fin-de-siècle France, captures the performer in a moment of stylized motion, often associated with a moment of comic or expressive song. The artist’s genius lay in his ability to convey character and atmosphere using minimal lines and striking color, a style that heavily influenced modern graphic design. The choice of the deep purple color emphasizes the artificial, atmospheric lighting and theatrical nature of the scene, typical of the night culture Toulouse-Lautrec meticulously documented throughout Paris.

The work remains an iconic example of the printmaking tradition and the documentation of performance art at the turn of the century. The original 1898 creation date places the design of the work securely in the public domain, ensuring that this influential imagery remains highly accessible for study today. This specific lithograph is part of the distinguished permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.