Yvette Guilbert on Stage, from Yvette Guilbert

Yvette Guilbert on Stage, from Yvette Guilbert is a significant lithograph created by the French master Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) in 1898. This work, rendered as a print on light blue wove paper, showcases Lautrec's profound engagement with the vibrant, often shadowy world of Parisian nightlife and entertainment in fin-de-siècle France. The lithograph medium allowed the artist to convey spontaneity and immediacy, aligning with his preference for capturing the authentic, unposed moments of his subjects.

Toulouse-Lautrec was captivated by the celebrated cabaret artist and chanson singer Yvette Guilbert, known for her distinctive silhouette and highly expressive stage presence. Unlike formal portraits, this piece captures Guilbert mid-performance, focusing on her recognizable features and the dramatic flair of her movements as she commands the stage. The composition utilizes a sparse approach, relying on stark contrasts, an economy of line, and the inherent color of the wove paper to convey the specific atmosphere of the music hall.

The 1898 work belongs to a larger portfolio dedicated to the singer, documenting her career and persona through the eyes of the foremost chronicler of bohemian Paris. Lautrec’s ability to render individual character and the ephemeral nature of the performance experience made his prints revolutionary and highly influential on subsequent graphic arts. As a critical example of late 19th-century French printmaking, the work is currently held in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as an essential public domain reference for the artist's prolific final decade.