Plate 16 (in-text plate, folio 19) from Yvette Guilbert

Plate 16 (in-text plate, folio 19) from Yvette Guilbert by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a key component of the artist’s seminal illustrated book dedicated to the famous French chanteuse. Created in 1894, this work exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s unique contribution to graphic arts and printmaking at the height of the Belle Époque. The piece is one of seventeen lithographs, including the cover, constituting the complete illustrated portfolio, which captured the persona and stage presence of the celebrated performer, Yvette Guilbert.

Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the spontaneous and expressive capabilities of lithography to achieve an immediacy in his portraits. His technique eschews detailed realism in favor of capturing motion and character through fluid, abbreviated lines, often emphasizing essential elements such as Guilbert’s distinctive, long black gloves and her expressive, almost exaggerated, facial features. As a French artist intimately connected with the social life of Montmartre, Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the personalities and spectacles of Parisian nightlife, blurring the lines between illustration, poster art, and fine art printmaking.

Classified specifically as an illustrated book, this collection of prints is significant for its early fusion of text and image, solidifying the artist's reputation as a pioneer of Modern graphic design. The artist’s innovative draftsmanship and psychological insight into his subjects remain highly influential. The original artwork resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Due to its historical significance, high-quality reproductions of this work are frequently studied, and depending on the specific edition, prints of this masterwork often enter the public domain, ensuring widespread access to this important 1894 documentation of contemporary performance culture.