Plate 10 (in-text plate, folio 13) from Yvette Guilbert, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1894, is a constituent part of an important French illustrated book project. The complete edition comprises seventeen lithographs, including the cover, demonstrating the artist’s deep engagement with publishing beyond his famous large-format posters. This particular plate exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec's celebrated ability to capture the essence of Parisian nightlife and its most famous personalities through the democratic medium of the fine art print.
The subject of this series is the iconic chanteuse Yvette Guilbert (1867-1944), whose unique stage presence, characterized by her long black gloves and expressive physical style, made her a legendary figure in Montmartre. Toulouse-Lautrec captured Guilbert repeatedly throughout his career, often focusing on her distinctive silhouette and kinetic energy. In this piece, the economy of line typical of the artist’s graphic work is immediately evident. Toulouse-Lautrec masterfully employed the lithographic process to convey movement and character through minimal means, relying on strong contours and subtle shading rather than detailed modeling. The stark, journalistic quality of these images defined the aesthetic of the French entertainment world at the close of the 19th century.
Dating to 1894, the height of the Post-Impressionist era, this illustrated book project secures Toulouse-Lautrec’s legacy not only as a painter but as a groundbreaking graphic designer and printmaker. The edition marks a critical moment when fine art intersected with popular culture and mass reproduction. As an essential document of fin-de-siècle Paris, the original illustrated book is held within the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). The enduring significance of securing high-quality prints of such works, especially those that have entered the public domain, ensures broad accessibility to this vital period of graphic innovation.
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