Yvette Guilbert-English Series: Sur la scene

Yvette Guilbert-English Series: Sur la scene by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is an iconic lithograph dating from 1898. This specific print belongs to a renowned series dedicated to the celebrated French cabaret star, Yvette Guilbert. Known for her distinctive long black gloves, expressive gestures, and unique singing style, Guilbert was a pivotal muse and frequent subject for the artist during the height of the Parisian Belle Époque.

As a master of the poster and print medium, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithographic process to capture the raw energy and immediacy of modern French nightlife. This work, classified as a book component or illustration, was part of a larger portfolio intended for publication and circulation, especially within the English art market, hence the series title. The artist’s signature style, characterized by simplified forms, sharp outlines, and minimal color applied in broad washes, captures the star mid-performance, focusing intense attention on her figure against the dark background of the stage.

The stylistic choices reflect a key movement in late 19th-century art, where Toulouse-Lautrec merged traditional drafting skill with the influence of Japanese woodblock prints to achieve a compelling, flattened perspective. Yvette Guilbert-English Series: Sur la scene encapsulates the dynamic and often subversive cultural milieu of turn-of-the-century France. This type of commercially produced fine art print helped define the aesthetic of the era. This important work is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.