Yvette Guilbert (recto) Three-Quarter Length Study of Yvette Guilbert (verso)

The drawing Yvette Guilbert (recto) Three-Quarter Length Study of Yvette Guilbert (verso) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, offers a unique, double-sided glimpse into the artist's preparatory methods. Classified as a drawing, this piece utilizes graphite on ivory wove paper. The dual use of the recto and verso for portrait studies suggests a rapid, working process, characteristic of Lautrec’s sketches as he documented the bustling energy of the Parisian entertainment world. The primary subject, the famed café-concert singer Yvette Guilbert, was one of Lautrec's most frequently depicted muses and a defining figure of fin-de-siècle France.

Spanning the years 1884 to 1901, the period of the work encompasses the height of the entertainment culture that Lautrec tirelessly documented. Guilbert was instantly recognizable for her distinctive slender figure and signature long black gloves, attributes Lautrec masterfully captured in his rapid, economical lines. This type of preparatory sketch, likely used for reference in the artist’s subsequent lithographs and posters, showcases Lautrec’s skill in capturing character and movement with minimal strokes. The double study emphasizes his intense focus on his subject, analyzing her posture and stage presence from multiple perspectives.

Although these spontaneous graphite studies often remained private during his lifetime, they are fundamental to understanding Lautrec's final output. The work is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, contributing to the institution’s rich holdings of late 19th-century French graphic arts. Given the age and art historical significance of the piece, high-quality images and prints are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing broader study of Lautrec’s pivotal role in modern drawing.