Plate 2 (in-text plate, folio 5) from Yvette Guilbert is a significant component of the illustrated book created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1894. This work is one of seventeen original lithographs, including the cover, used to accompany a tribute text dedicated to the famous French cabaret star and actress, Yvette Guilbert. Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the planar surface and inherent textures of the lithographic medium to capture the dynamic essence of Guilbert’s performance style. The artist often focused on her distinctive costuming and exaggerated gestures, such as her signature long black gloves, creating quick, expressive portraits that defined her public persona.
Created during the belle époque in Paris, this illustrated book reflects Toulouse-Lautrec’s deep immersion in the city’s burgeoning nightlife and entertainment culture. He was a master of the graphic arts, recognizing the power of prints to disseminate images widely and cement the visual identity of contemporary celebrities. The series, published in 1894, showcases the spontaneous, often caricatured drawing style that characterizes the artist’s most celebrated graphic output. This particular lithograph exemplifies the immediacy and bold, broken lines that defined French Post-Impressionist commercial art during this period.
As an exemplary Illustrated Book, the complete Yvette Guilbert series remains crucial to understanding the intersection of fine art, literature, and popular media at the close of the 19th century. Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential approach to caricature and simplified line drawing revolutionized poster design and modern printmaking. This individual piece, classified as a lithograph, belongs to the extensive holdings of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Due to the date of its creation, this important work of 1894 is frequently encountered in historical prints collections, and its imagery often falls under the category of public domain art, ensuring widespread access to the masterworks of the period.
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