Yvette Guilbert

Yvette Guilbert is a definitive color lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1894. This highly influential piece, executed on ivory laid paper using both lithographic and letterpress techniques, captures the essence of the fin de siècle Parisian entertainment scene. As a pivotal printmaker operating in France, Toulouse-Lautrec documented the stars and venues of Montmartre, fundamentally changing how graphic art was used for both publicity and artistic expression.

The subject is the celebrated cabaret performer Yvette Guilbert, known internationally for her distinctive long black gloves and unique stage presence. Lautrec captures her dynamic energy with economical, bold lines and a striking focus on silhouette, typical of his innovative approach to commercial prints. The artist often exaggerated the features of his sitters, turning them into instantly recognizable visual brands for the public. This approach cemented the performer's fame and solidified Lautrec’s reputation as the foremost artistic chronicler of Paris nightlife.

Classified as a print, the work exemplifies the late nineteenth-century revival of lithography as a major art form. The combination of color and letterpress indicates that this image may have been intended either as a standalone poster or as an illustration within a published album of the artist’s work. The expressive power and historical documentation demonstrated by Lautrec in works like Yvette Guilbert ensure their continued study. This historically significant color lithograph resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.