Miss May Belfort in the Irish and American Bar, rue Royale (Miss Belfort Belfort au Irish and American Bar, Rue Royale)

Miss May Belfort in the Irish and American Bar, rue Royale (Miss Belfort Belfort au Irish and American Bar, Rue Royale) is a significant lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. This evocative piece exemplifies the French artistic production spanning the 1876 to 1900 period, focusing keenly on the vibrant, often subterranean, nightlife of Paris during the Belle Époque.

As a recognized master of the print medium, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithographic process to capture the specific character of Parisian entertainment venues. The subject of the work is the Irish cabaret singer May Belfort, a unique figure in Montmartre known for her carefully cultivated stage persona. Belfort frequently appeared in public wearing a signature short white dress and a large bow, juxtaposing a perceived childlike innocence with the suggestive lyrics of her songs.

Toulouse-Lautrec often acted as a keen and empathetic chronicler of contemporary Parisian society, documenting performers, spectators, and the specific atmosphere of bars and cafés with journalistic precision. The setting of the print, the Irish and American Bar on the Rue Royale, was a popular cosmopolitan meeting place reflecting the era’s taste for exotic foreign novelties. The artist’s distinctive style, characterized by economical, expressive lines and subtle shading typical of his prints, immortalizes Belfort in a moment that appears private or contemplative, perhaps resting between sets or interacting casually with the clientele offstage.

This work highlights Toulouse-Lautrec's profound ability to infuse observational realism with psychological insight, creating not just a portrait, but a visual record of fin-de-siècle celebrity and environment. The enduring appeal and historical significance of this lithograph place it among the most important prints created during this period. This edition of the work is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, representing a crucial document of French graphic art from the late nineteenth century.