Portret van danseres Loie Fuller tijdens een optreden

The influential print titled Portret van danseres Loie Fuller tijdens een optreden by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captures the American dancer during one of her innovative stage performances in Paris circa 1893. This depiction immortalizes Loie Fuller, a central figure in early modern dance, known for her groundbreaking "Serpentine Dance" which utilized voluminous silk costumes and sophisticated electric stage lighting to create kinetic, abstract forms.

As a piece classified as a print on paper, the work demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s characteristic ability to capture movement and atmosphere using economic lines and bold tonal contrasts, likely achieved through the medium of lithography. The emphasis here is less on the figure's face and more on the dynamic swirl of the fabric, which dramatically interacts with the concentrated illumination. This approach aligns the piece with the Post-Impressionist focus on expressive interpretation over strict realism, translating the ephemeral nature of the stage spectacle into a lasting visual document.

Created during the height of the Belle Époque, this work is part of a significant body of pieces by Toulouse-Lautrec documenting the performers and nightlife of Montmartre. The mass production of prints was central to his career, enabling the circulation of his artistic observations across Parisian society. This important example of his graphic output is maintained within the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum. As an artwork from the late 19th century, high-quality digital reproductions of prints like these are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing global access to the master's powerful interpretation of Loie Fuller’s revolutionary performance art.