May Belfort, Title page for "Treize Lithographies"

May Belfort, Title page for "Treize Lithographies" is a striking 1898 crayon lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The print, classified specifically as a fine art impression, was executed on delicate china paper and subsequently pasted onto a sturdy green linen portfolio cover, indicating its function as the introductory plate for a set of thirteen lithographic prints. This particular portrait depicts the celebrated Irish singer and chanson performer May Belfort, known for her distinctive stage presence and child-like costuming, qualities which Toulouse-Lautrec captured frequently across his body of work.

The composition showcases the artist’s characteristic ability to convey the essence of his subjects with minimal, spontaneous line work. As a master of graphic arts and poster design, Toulouse-Lautrec specialized in producing detailed portraits of women who defined the Belle Époque's entertainment scene. Belfort is rendered in a style that emphasizes the immediacy and texture inherent in the crayon lithography technique, capturing her identity as a theatrical personality of the time. The image functions both as a compelling independent portrait and as a piece of artistic design promoting the complete collection of Treize Lithographies (Thirteen Lithographs).

Created late in the artist's relatively short career, this work solidifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s reputation as the primary chronicler of Montmartre life and celebrity culture during the late nineteenth century. This significant example of French graphic art resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of this and similar prints by the artist are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread scholarly and general access to the master printmaker’s revolutionary approach.