Marcelle Lender and Eva Lavalliére in a Revue at the Variétés

Marcelle Lender and Eva Lavalliére in a Revue at the Variétés by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a significant example of fin de siècle Parisian graphic art. Executed in 1895, this print is a crayon lithograph, meticulously rendered in olive green ink on wove paper. As the only existing state of the work, the piece showcases Toulouse-Lautrec’s sophisticated understanding of the nascent poster and illustration movement, merging high art sensibilities with the ephemeral world of entertainment advertising.

The work captures two notable women of the Parisian stage: actress Marcelle Lender, known for her vibrant performance in operettas, and singer Eva Lavalliére. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the celebrities and demimonde of Montmartre, utilizing the stage and café-concert environment as his primary inspiration. This particular lithograph exemplifies his ability to distill the energy of the revue while maintaining intimate character studies of the performers. The composition focuses on the dynamic interaction between the two figures, highlighting the fashionable elegance and theatrical presence characteristic of the era and connecting directly to the widespread subject of women in society and performance during the 1890s.

As one of the artist's definitive prints, Marcelle Lender and Eva Lavalliére in a Revue at the Variétés confirms Toulouse-Lautrec's reputation as the visual chronicler of modern Parisian life. His innovative techniques profoundly influenced subsequent generations of graphic artists, cementing the status of the print as an art form. This essential work remains a valued part of the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a public domain example of late 19th-century printmaking innovation.