Mademoiselle Lender, in Madam Satan

The influential work Mademoiselle Lender, in Madam Satan by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a significant example of his mastery of printmaking. Created in 1893, this artwork is a color lithograph on cream wove paper. Lautrec pioneered the artistic use of lithography, utilizing vibrant, flat areas of color and dynamic lines to capture the fleeting moments of Parisian life and the energy of the entertainment world in France.

This specific print showcases the artist’s deep engagement with popular French theater, featuring the celebrated performer Marcelle Lender. Lender is depicted here in costume for the operetta Madam Satan. Lautrec often chose subjects from the cafés-concerts and theatrical stages of the era, elevating these contemporary figures to high art. Unlike many of his contemporaries who focused on historical themes, Lautrec intensely focused on capturing individual expression and character among dancers and actors, producing highly personal, yet widely distributed, prints. The immediacy and reproducibility of the lithographic process allowed him to disseminate these images of contemporary Belle Époque figures rapidly.

Lautrec's skillful manipulation of the lithographic stone resulted in the bold contrasts and textural nuance evident in this work. The piece documents the intense atmosphere of the 1890s and confirms the artist's profound connection to the art of the poster and serial imagery. This important print is currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key reference for studying late 19th-century graphic arts. As the artist died in 1901, many of these iconic prints and designs are now entering the public domain.