Plate 13 (in-text plate, folio 16) from Yvette Guilbert

Plate 13 (in-text plate, folio 16) from Yvette Guilbert by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a significant print created in 1894. This piece originates from an illustrated book project featuring seventeen distinct lithographs, including the cover. The project captures the essence of Parisian nightlife during the Belle Époque. As a major figure in late 19th-century graphic arts, Toulouse-Lautrec used the medium of lithography to create rapid, evocative portraits rooted in French culture. The ability to produce multiple prints allowed the artist to circulate his observations of contemporary society widely.

The subject of this influential series is the iconic cabaret star Yvette Guilbert, whom Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented. Known for his keen observation and graphic immediacy, Toulouse-Lautrec often employed simplified forms and strong outlines in his illustrated book plates to convey character and movement efficiently. This particular lithograph demonstrates the artist's masterful control of line and economy of detail, emphasizing the dramatic quality inherent in Guilbert's distinctive stage presence. The creation of such limited-edition prints was central to the artist's practice, linking fine art techniques with commercial printing methods popular in the 1894 period.

As a vital example of late 19th-century French printmaking, the complete edition of the Yvette Guilbert illustrated book is highly regarded. This specific work, Plate 13 (in-text plate, folio 16) from Yvette Guilbert, resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognizing its importance both as a historical document and as a technical achievement in graphic art. The wide dissemination of images like this through artistic prints of the period ensured the accessibility of the original compositions, with many high-resolution examples now entering the public domain.