Rehearsal at the Folies-Bergère—Emilenne D'Alençon and Mariquita

Rehearsal at the Folies-Bergère, Emilenne D'Alençon and Mariquita by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, French, 1864-1901, captures an intimate, backstage moment from Parisian nightlife in 1893. The work is a lithograph executed on delicate cream Japanese paper, a choice of material that enhances the soft, expressive quality of the drawing. Toulouse-Lautrec excelled in the medium of printmaking, finding in lithography the speed and graphic strength necessary to chronicle the vibrant world of fin de siècle entertainment.

This piece features the celebrated dancer Emilienne D'Alençon, often depicted by Lautrec, alongside her colleague Mariquita during a rehearsal pause at the famous Folies-Bergère cabaret. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently immersed himself in the theaters and dance halls of France, documenting the performers and clientele with an unflinching eye. His compositions, often utilizing cropped figures and dramatic angles influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints, suggest a snapshot quality, pulling the viewer directly into the environment. The focus here is less on the spectacular performance and more on the private, unvarnished interaction between the two women preparing for their roles.

This lithograph is an important example of Lautrec’s mature graphic output, solidifying his reputation as the foremost visual historian of the era. The Art Institute of Chicago holds this 1893 print in its collection, illustrating the museum’s commitment to preserving key examples of French Post-Impressionist graphic arts. The enduring significance of such documentation ensures that reproductions of many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential prints are accessible through public domain initiatives today.