Portret van actrice Yvette Guilbert in Dans la Glu

About this artwork

height 325 mm x width 265 mm

Art Historical Context

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec *Portret van actricevette Guilbert in Dans Glu* (1898) is a striking lithograph capturing the iconic French cabaret performer Yvette Guilbert in one of her dramatic roles. Measuring 325 mm high by 265 mm wide, this intimate portrait exemplifies Lautrec's mastery of poster during the Belle Époque, a time when Paris's nightlife pulsed with energy in venues like the Moulin Rouge and music halls. Lautrec, a Post-Impressionist innovator, elevated lithography from mere reproduction to high art, using bold lines, vibrant colors, and psychological insight to immortalize the era's stars. Guilbert, known for her sharp wit and elongated, expressive features, was a muse for Lautrec; he portrayed her multiple times, highlighting her as a symbol of modern femininity and theatrical flair. "Dans la Glu" likely refers to a gritty, seductive performance piece, reflecting the risqué underbelly of fin-de-siècle entertainment. This work's cultural significance lies in its snapshot of bohemian Paris, where art and vice intertwined. Lautrec's technique—layered colors printed from stones—allowed mass production while retaining a handcrafted feel, making celebrity accessible and revolutionizing advertising. A must-see for understanding the artist's empathetic gaze on society's fringes.

About the Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1864–1901

Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (1864-1901) was a French Post-Impressionist painter, printmaker, and illustrator whose innovative poster designs revolutionized graphic art and advertising in late 19th-century Paris. Born into an aristocratic family at Albi in southern France, Toulouse-Lautrec's privileged lineage traced back to the Counts of Toulouse and extended uninterrupted to th...