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
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec produced a lithograph of the singer Yvette Guilbert in 1894, rendered primarily in olive‑green tones. The print captures the performer seated in a dim interior, her face illuminated by a soft light while her posture conveys both relaxation and intensity.
Subject & Meaning
Yvette Guilbert, a well‑known vocalist and entertainer of the Parisian cabaret scene, is depicted with a focus on her expressive visage rather than surrounding details. The composition emphasizes her personal presence, suggesting the intimate atmosphere of a backstage or private moment.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work utilizes the traditional stone‑based process, allowing for fluid, rapid lines that give the image a sketch‑like quality. The dominant olive‑green palette and loose drawing style reflect Lautrec’s habit of quickly capturing the essence of his subjects.
History & Provenance
Created during Lautrec’s most productive period of portraying nightlife and theatrical figures, the print aligns with his broader interest in the marginal spaces of Parisian culture. Its production date of 1894 places it among a series of works that document the era’s performers.
Context
Lautrec’s personal experience of physical disability and his immersion in the bohemian circles of Montmartre informed his fascination with entertainers like Guilbert. The lithograph exemplifies his tendency to portray individuals from the city's vibrant, often overlooked, entertainment milieu.
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.
