Plate 7 (in-text plate, folio 10) from Yvette Guilbert is a significant graphic work by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1894. This piece, one of seventeen lithographs compiled within the illustrated book, Yvette Guilbert, focuses intensely on the singular performance style of the famous French singer and actress. Toulouse-Lautrec, known for his masterful documentation of the Parisian demimonde, utilized this project to capture the essence of his favored muse, whose black gloves and dramatic delivery made her instantly recognizable.
Executed during the height of the fin-de-siècle movement, the artwork exemplifies the vitality of French visual culture in 1894, focusing specifically on the celebrities who defined the era’s cabarets and theaters. The production of the illustrated book allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to disseminate his unique visual critiques and style to a broader public. Utilizing the demanding medium of lithography, the artist employs his characteristic economy of line and strong contours, often leaving large areas of the paper untouched to heighten dramatic effect. The piece is not a conventional portrait; rather, it is an incisive visual sketch intended to capture the distinctive gestures, costumes, and the overwhelming energy of Guilbert’s acclaimed public persona. His choice to work predominantly in prints demonstrates his commitment to graphic arts as an essential form of modern expression.
As a key example of the artist’s work in the illustrated book format, this plate contributes significantly to the understanding of printmaking’s role in late 19th-century fine art. The complete book, Yvette Guilbert, is celebrated for its intimacy and immediacy, characteristics that define Toulouse-Lautrec’s most influential output. This specific plate is housed within the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it serves as a critical document of French cultural history. While many historical prints from this period are now widely studied through public domain access, this specific work remains a central component of MoMA's authoritative holdings on early modern graphics.
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