Miss May Belfort Bare-Headed (Miss May Belfort en cheveux)

Miss May Belfort Bare-Headed (Miss May Belfort en cheveux) is a significant lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. This evocative work, characteristic of the French fin-de-siècle, captures the Irish singer May Belfort, a notable figure in Parisian cabaret culture. The print showcases Belfort without her customary bonnet or elaborate stage costume, offering a more intimate, perhaps fleeting, glimpse of the performer often associated with the venues of Montmartre.

Executed during the vital period spanning 1876 to 1900, the piece demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec's profound mastery of the lithographic process. Known for his keen observation and ability to capture psychological depth through simplified line and form, Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the celebrities and the demimonde of modern Parisian life. Unlike his dramatic, colorful posters, this fine art print relies on delicate shading and economy of line to define the sitter’s features. The artist’s graphic output was highly influential, documenting the transformation of popular entertainment in the late nineteenth century.

May Belfort was a favored subject of Toulouse-Lautrec; she appears in several of his major works, including posters and other prints. In Miss May Belfort Bare-Headed, the directness of the portrait contrasts sharply with her well-known, doll-like public image. This example of French printmaking from the late nineteenth century is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a key representation of the artist’s graphic production. As a historical work of art, high-quality images and prints derived from this masterwork are widely available through public domain archives, allowing for broad study and appreciation.