Mademoiselle Eglantine's Troupe (La Troupe de Mademoiselle Églantine)

Mademoiselle Eglantine's Troupe (La Troupe de Mademoiselle Églantine) is a celebrated color lithograph created by the French master Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This print is a quintessential example of the artist’s prolific engagement with commercial graphic design, capturing the vibrant, transient world of Parisian nightlife and entertainment. Produced during a period of intense innovation in poster art, the medium of lithography allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to distribute his vision widely, blurring the lines between fine art and commercial advertisement.

The subject matter focuses on Mademoiselle Églantine and her eponymous dance troupe, typically depicting the chaotic energy and distinct personalities involved in their performance. Toulouse-Lautrec was deeply immersed in the cabaret and dance hall culture of Montmartre, Paris, providing him intimate access to the performers who populated his works, such as Jane Avril. This close observation resulted in dynamic compositions that prioritize movement and character over static portraiture.

The style of the work is characterized by the artist’s innovative approach to design. Toulouse-Lautrec employs flattened planes, bold outlines, and cropped compositions, techniques largely derived from his study of Japanese woodblock prints. He utilizes color not for naturalism, but to heighten the artificial atmosphere of the performance hall, emphasizing the yellow and green tones often associated with gaslight illumination. The resulting image captures motion and individual character with striking immediacy.

This significant French print from 1896 is housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, where it serves as a key example of Toulouse-Lautrec's pioneering contribution to modern graphic arts. The artist's focus on documenting the realities of the fin de siècle urban experience cemented his legacy as one of the most important Post-Impressionist figures.