Yvette Guilbert

Yvette Guilbert, a vibrant portrait created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) in 1894, captures one of the defining figures of Belle Époque Paris. This remarkable example of late 19th-century graphic art is rendered as a color lithograph on ivory laid paper. Toulouse-Lautrec, deeply immersed in the theatrical and cabaret life of Montmartre, utilized the print medium extensively to capture and distribute the likenesses of his celebrity subjects, contributing significantly to the rise of modern poster art.

The sitter, Yvette Guilbert, was a highly distinctive chanteuse known for her long black gloves, pale features, and sharp, often cynical, performance style. Toulouse-Lautrec masterfully employed the properties of the lithograph to create bold outlines and flat areas of expressive color, typical of the burgeoning graphic arts movement in 1890s France. Unlike traditional portraiture, this work emphasizes movement and caricature, distilling Guilbert’s distinctive stage persona into a potent visual symbol. The artist’s ability to summarize character with minimal lines made his works instantly recognizable and widely influential.

Classified as a major print, this depiction exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential approach to mass-market imagery, blurring the lines between high art and the popular culture of the Parisian streets. The detailed execution and dynamic composition confirm why his graphic works are highly sought after by collectors and reference materials. This important document of French cultural history is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Reflecting its historical importance, high-resolution reproductions and prints of this masterwork are increasingly accessible through public domain initiatives.