Yvette Guilbert is a celebrated color lithograph on ivory laid paper created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1894. This work exemplifies Lautrec's mastery of the nascent medium of color lithography, which he elevated from commercial reproduction to a fine art form. Executed during the height of the Belle Époque, this print captures the definitive spirit of Parisian cabaret life, focusing on one of its most recognizable figures.
The subject, the famed chanteuse Yvette Guilbert, was an icon of the Montmartre district and its vibrant entertainment scene. Lautrec frequently documented her performances, focusing on her distinctive stage presence, characterized by her stark, expressive features and the iconic long black gloves she habitually wore. The stark lines and flattened planes inherent in the lithographic process lend a powerful, almost journalistic immediacy to the portrait, perfectly reflecting the fast-paced, modern visual culture of fin-de-siècle France.
As a significant example within the artist's robust body of graphic work, this print remains a crucial artifact for understanding the era's visual history. Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential prints shaped modern poster design and continue to be widely studied today, often circulating in public domain archives due to their age and historical importance. This specific impression of Yvette Guilbert is preserved in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a cornerstone example of French graphic arts from the late 19th century.
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