The iconic image of Yvette Guilbert was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1894. This characteristic image of the famed Parisian entertainer is executed as a lithograph with letterpress, printed on ivory laid paper. Lautrec embraced lithography not only for its artistic qualities but also for its reproductive potential, making this form of print art accessible to a wide audience throughout France. This medium, which effectively combines hand-drawn elements with mechanical text, exemplifies the period’s blurring lines between fine art and commercial advertisement.
The work is a powerful portrait of Guilbert, celebrated for her distinctive dramatic style and signature long black gloves. Lautrec captured her essence through expressive, economic lines, emphasizing her angular figure and unique stage presence. Throughout the 1890s, Lautrec dedicated numerous works to Guilbert, recognizing her status as a defining symbol of bohemian Montmartre and the vibrant fin de siècle culture of Paris. This particular print captures the dynamic energy of the café-concert environment that dominated turn-of-the-century France.
As a key example of the artistic print movement, this piece demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s innovative use of simplified form and composition in the rapidly developing field of poster art. Prints like this one were crucial in establishing Lautrec’s reputation as a master draftsman and chronicler of modern life. The work is classified specifically as a print and currently resides in the esteemed permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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