On the Stage, plate one from Yvette Guilbert

On the Stage, plate one from Yvette Guilbert is a highly characteristic print created in 1898 by the French master Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. This piece belongs to a celebrated series dedicated to the iconic cabaret star Yvette Guilbert, a figure the artist frequently documented during the complex cultural milieu of late 19th-century Paris. Though the specific scene is rendered with stark simplicity, the work captures the intense spotlight and dramatic staging crucial to the success of Montmartre's entertainment world.

This piece is a lithograph, skillfully utilizing crayon for texture and a scraper to achieve sharp contrasts. It is executed in sanguine, a distinctive red-brown hue, on cream wove paper. This choice of color imparts an intimate, sketching quality to the composition. The finished sheet was later printed by Westminster Press and published by the firm Ernest Brown & Phillips, demonstrating the enduring commercial appeal of Toulouse-Lautrec’s graphic work in the early 20th century.

As a cornerstone of French Post-Impressionist graphic art, this print is significant not just for its subject matter but for its technical innovation. Many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s most recognizable images are prints used in poster and publishing contexts, documenting the kinetic vibrancy of France during the Belle Époque. The work currently resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars and visitors a direct view into the artist’s visual journal of Parisian nightlife. As art institutions prioritize accessibility, images of seminal works, including historical prints like this one, are frequently moved into the public domain, ensuring wide distribution and study.