Yvette Guilbert (from Le Café Concert)

Yvette Guilbert (from Le Café Concert) is a definitive print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1893. This piece is a brush and crayon lithograph printed in rich, brownish-black ink upon laid Japan paper. The technique emphasizes Toulouse-Lautrec's unique mastery of graphic arts, utilizing the expressive capacity of the brush alongside the precise control of the crayon to capture movement and atmosphere. The work is recognized as the only state, signifying its final intended form.

The lithograph features the celebrated French cabaret performer Yvette Guilbert, whose distinctive appearance made her a frequent subject for the artist. Guilbert was a defining figure of the fin-de-siècle Parisian entertainment scene, instantly recognizable for her sharp wit and her signature long black gloves. Toulouse-Lautrec consistently depicted the women of the Parisian stage, using their profiles and stage personas to reflect the energy of Montmartre nightlife. In this severe profile view, the artist focuses less on traditional portraiture and more on capturing the sharp, almost caricature-like essence of her celebrity.

As a print, this lithograph showcases Toulouse-Lautrec's role in popularizing the medium, bridging the gap between fine art and commercial imagery. His prints captured the immediacy of modern life and were influential in shaping the aesthetic of the period. This significant work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, contributing to the museum's extensive holdings of 19th-century French prints. The accessibility of such historic prints today often places reproductions of Toulouse-Lautrec's famous works into the public domain for research and study.