Yvette Guilbert

The influential artwork Yvette Guilbert was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1894. This piece, executed as a lithograph in olive green, captures the essence of one of the most famous entertainers of the Parisian stage. Toulouse-Lautrec specialized in documenting the vibrant, often raw, reality of Montmartre nightlife during the Belle Époque, defining the visual culture of the era.

As a key figure in French post-Impressionism, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the emerging commercial medium of lithography, particularly for creating prints and portfolios intended for wider distribution. The choice of the subdued olive green tone lends the depiction of Guilbert a specific, moody atmosphere characteristic of the period extending from 1876 to 1900. This particular lithograph was classified as part of a larger portfolio, emphasizing the artist's focus on creating serialized images of contemporary life. His sharp, observational style allowed him to convey personality and movement with minimal line work, a hallmark of his artistic production.

Yvette Guilbert, instantly recognizable by her defining features and signature long black gloves, was a frequent subject for Toulouse-Lautrec, who was drawn to performers whose identities were intrinsically tied to their stage presence. The work illustrates the artist's fascination with theatricality and the celebrity culture blossoming in fin-de-siècle Paris. This important example of French graphic art resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it documents the shift toward modern printmaking. The accessibility inherent in early commercial prints, such as this one, contributes to the ongoing availability of high-quality images of the artist’s work in the public domain, securing Toulouse-Lautrec’s lasting legacy.