Yvette Guilbert is a distinguished lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1894. Executed on ivory laid paper, this work exemplifies the artist's commitment to documenting Parisian nightlife and the graphic arts of the Belle Époque. As a master draughtsman and pioneer in commercial poster design, Toulouse-Lautrec frequently employed the medium of the print, recognizing its potential for broad dissemination and artistic experimentation. This piece confirms his status as the principal visual chronicler of the vibrant Montmartre district in France.
The subject, Yvette Guilbert, was one of the era’s most celebrated cabaret singers, instantly recognizable by her sharp features and her trademark long black gloves. Toulouse-Lautrec was fascinated by the performer, producing several highly stylized portraits of her throughout the 1890s. This lithograph showcases the artist's distinctive style, which favors expressive line quality and simplified forms over traditional realism, effectively capturing the dramatic intensity and unique silhouette of Guilbert on stage. Lautrec utilized the lithographic process skillfully, allowing him to quickly render the fleeting moments and characteristic poses that defined the popular entertainment culture of late 19th-century France.
The work is an important example of French graphic innovation, elevating the classification of the print to fine art. This particular impression of Yvette Guilbert currently resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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