Yvette Guilbert-English Series: Cover

Yvette Guilbert-English Series: Cover is a significant lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898. Classified as a book cover, this work was designed to introduce the English edition of a series dedicated to the famous French singer and actress, Yvette Guilbert. Known for his immediate and dynamic depictions of Parisian nightlife, Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented Guilbert's distinct persona, making her one of his most iconic subjects. This piece captures the essence of the Belle Époque entertainment scene in France, where the artist was a central figure in chronicling the world of cabaret and theater.

The choice of the lithograph medium allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to produce bold, graphic prints that were essential for the proliferation of advertising posters and book designs at the end of the 19th century. While the artist is celebrated for his sophisticated color prints, the design for the Yvette Guilbert-English Series: Cover often relied on starker contrasts to convey the subject's energy and dramatic silhouette. Guilbert, instantly recognizable by her signature long black gloves, became a recurring muse for Toulouse-Lautrec, who captured her distinctive stage presence with expressive clarity.

This piece exemplifies the sophisticated graphic arts culture prevalent in France during the 1890s, where commercial art and fine art often overlapped. The work resides within the extensive collection of French prints held by the Cleveland Museum of Art. As historical examples of influential book art, high-quality images of such Toulouse-Lautrec prints are frequently made available to the public domain, allowing wide access for scholarly research and appreciation of this master of modern graphic design.