Yvette Guilbert, in Colombine à Pierrot

Yvette Guilbert, in Colombine à Pierrot is a significant color lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1894. This vibrant print was executed using the medium of color lithography on cream wove paper, a technique central to Toulouse-Lautrec’s commercial and artistic output in late 19th-century Paris. The work captures the celebrated cabaret performer, Yvette Guilbert, whom the artist immortalized through dozens of sketches and prints.

Guilbert, known for her expressive stage presence, long black gloves, and distinctive singing style, is depicted here in a theatrical costume. She appears in the guise of Colombine, a classic character from the traditional Italian commedia dell’arte. This pairing of traditional theatrical archetypes with contemporary popular entertainment reflects the dynamic cultural atmosphere of fin-de-siècle France. Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for documenting the vibrant, often cynical, nightlife of Montmartre. His innovative use of the lithographic process, particularly in creating posters and theatrical publicity, elevated the genre to the level of fine art.

Working primarily in the medium of prints during the 1890s, Toulouse-Lautrec developed a distinctive visual style characterized by bold lines, flattened planes of color, and sharp, often caricatural, observation of celebrity and costume. This piece is a quintessential example of his focus on the performers who defined the era. As a definitive example of French graphic arts, Yvette Guilbert, in Colombine à Pierrot is classified as a print and currently resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Artworks of this age and stature are frequently studied as historical reference points, often entering the public domain.