Artwork
Yvette Guilbert
Yvette Guilbert is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The background is deliberately bare, focusing attention on the figure’s turned pose and the stark simplicity of the composition.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1894 lithograph presents the celebrated Parisian chanteuse Yvette Guilbert. Executed in a muted olive‑green palette, the print captures the singer’s profile with a loose, sketch‑like line that emphasizes the contours of her face and upper torso. The background is deliberately bare, focusing attention on the figure’s turned pose and the stark simplicity of the composition.
Subject & Meaning
Yvette Guilbert, a prominent figure in Montmartre’s cabaret circuit, is rendered here in a moment of poised performance. Her hair is pulled back and a dark collar frames her neck, suggesting the modest yet striking attire she favored on stage. The work conveys both the allure of the nightlife scene and the personal charisma that made Guilbert a favorite of contemporary audiences.
Technique & Style
The lithograph employs rapid, gestural strokes that leave portions of the paper exposed, creating a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. The choice of an olive‑green ink imparts an aged, book‑like quality, while the minimal background underscores the artist’s focus on line and form rather than decorative detail. This approach reflects Lautrec’s broader interest in capturing fleeting moments of urban life.
History & Provenance
Created during Lautrec’s most productive period immersed in Paris’s nocturnal entertainment venues, the print was likely produced for the artist’s own circulation among collectors of the era. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has appeared in several exhibitions of Lautrec’s prints, underscoring its role in documenting the cultural milieu of late‑19th‑century Montmartre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.
