Miss May Belfort

Miss May Belfort is a celebrated lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. This striking print captures the titular performer, a renowned Irish singer who achieved fame in the Parisian cabarets and music halls during the Belle Époque. The work exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s dedication to documenting the vibrant, often cynical, nightlife of late 19th-century France. Known for her unique stage persona, Belfort often appeared in costumes that contrasted a childlike innocence with the decadence of her environment, a subtlety that the artist masterfully conveys through the simplified forms characteristic of the medium.

As a technically brilliant lithograph, this piece demonstrates the artist’s sharp ability to capture character with minimal line and bold color contrasts, hallmarks of his extensive output in prints. Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the reproducibility of the print medium to distribute images of his celebrity subjects widely, effectively establishing a new form of portraiture while significantly advancing the visual language of modern graphic arts. The immediate appeal and expressive quality of the work made the artist a foundational figure in art from France at the turn of the century.

The classification of this piece as a major print highlights its historical and artistic importance, offering invaluable insight into the culture of its era. Today, the expressive power and documentary significance of Miss May Belfort continue to place it among Toulouse-Lautrec’s most engaging prints. This important work is maintained in the comprehensive permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.