May Belfort Bowing (Miss May Belfort saluant)

May Belfort Bowing (Miss May Belfort saluant) is a significant lithograph created in 1895 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. This print is a compelling example of the artist's prolific output during the French fin-de-siècle and exemplifies the vibrant artistic culture of the period 1876 to 1900. Toulouse-Lautrec, who was deeply entrenched in the social scene of Montmartre, utilized the accessibility and immediacy of the lithographic medium to document the performers, dancers, and personalities of the Parisian cabarets and music halls. The work’s technique highlights his signature economy of line and ability to capture the psychological depth and characteristic gestures of his subjects.

The subject is May Belfort (1855-1929), a celebrated British singer known for her deliberately childlike stage presence and distinctive, large bonnets, which often dominated her costuming. The piece captures the specific, formal moment following a performance, where Belfort executes a deep, theatrical bow to the audience. Unlike many of the artist’s more chaotic or crowded compositions, Toulouse-Lautrec isolates the singer, lending a dignified focus to the act of acknowledgment and highlighting the formal contract between the performer and her admirers.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s dedicated focus on the world of entertainment revolutionized graphic art, transforming what were often ephemeral commercial items into recognized masterpieces. May Belfort Bowing is a crucial piece in understanding this cultural transition, demonstrating how the artist infused simple portraiture with documentary realism. The work currently resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it serves as a critical document of French performance history. As part of a prestigious museum collection, and due to its historical context, this image is frequently referenced in public domain archives, ensuring the widespread study of Toulouse-Lautrec's influential prints.