Mademoiselle Eglantine's Troupe

Mademoiselle Eglantine's Troupe by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1864-1901, is a vibrant color lithograph created in 1896, capturing the energy of the Parisian entertainment scene. Lautrec, a definitive figure in late 19th-century France, was deeply embedded in the world of cabarets and dance halls, moving beyond traditional easel painting to elevate poster art and prints to fine art status. This work exemplifies his characteristic observational style, focusing on performers in intimate, often staged, moments.

Executed as a color lithograph on tan wove paper, the composition demonstrates Lautrec’s economy of line and sophisticated use of color registration, techniques typical of the era’s finest graphic arts. The subject, the dance troupe of Mademoiselle Eglantine, is rendered with immediacy, the figures often recognizable portraits of actual performers. The print showcases the stylized movements and elaborate costumes associated with the cancan or chahut, a popular, high-kicking dance that dominated venues like the Moulin Rouge. Lautrec’s innovative approach to prints ensured that his dynamic images reached a wide audience, contributing significantly to the visual culture of the Belle Époque.

This piece belongs to a series of works Lautrec executed late in his career, documenting the spectacle and sometimes harsh reality behind the glamour of nightlife in France. The stark lighting effects and bold cropping seen in Mademoiselle Eglantine's Troupe reflect the influence of Japanese woodcuts, a defining characteristic of Post-Impressionist graphic art. This significant work is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it contributes to the museum’s extensive holdings of late 19th-century French prints. Due to its age and historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of this masterwork are frequently available in the public domain for research and study.