Yvette Guilbert

Yvette Guilbert is a dynamic color lithograph created in 1894 by the French master Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901). Classified as a print, this artwork exemplifies Lautrec's technical brilliance and engagement with commercial art forms of the period. The piece was executed using color lithography, combined with letterpress, on ivory wove paper, showcasing the integration of fine art and graphic design popular during the fin de siècle in France.

As one of the foremost artists documenting the rapidly changing entertainment culture of 19th-century Paris, Toulouse-Lautrec often turned his gaze toward the charismatic performers who defined the era’s nightlife. The subject, Yvette Guilbert, was a celebrated star of the Parisian cabaret scene, particularly known for her distinctive tall black gloves and her expressive, often dramatic, stage presence. Lautrec captures her essential character and elongated figure through the simplified, yet dynamic, lines characteristic of his lithographic work.

This piece belongs to a major series of prints the artist dedicated to Guilbert. This widespread use of lithography allowed Lautrec’s keen visual observations of modern life and celebrity to reach a broad public audience, defining the aesthetic of the modern European poster. The 1894 work is considered a key example of the graphic revolution spearheaded by Lautrec, influencing subsequent advertising and printmaking across Europe. Preserved in excellent condition, this significant piece is held within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.