Yvette Guilbert : série anglaise

About this artwork

height 326 mm x width 267 mm

Art Historical Context

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec *Yvette Guilbert: série anglaise* (1898) is a striking lithograph capturing the essence of one of fin-de-siècle Paris's iconic performers. Measuring 326 mm high by 267 mm wide, this print belongs to a series dedicated to Yvette Guilbert the celebrated cabaret singer and actress known for her sharp-witted, risqué songs that lampooned society. Lautrec, a master of Post-Impressionist poster art, immortalized her distinctive profile—long neck, exaggerated gestures, and expressive face—against bold, simplified backgrounds, evoking the electric atmosphere of Montmartre's nightlife. Created during the Belle Époque, when color lithography revolutionized advertising, Lautrec's technique allowed for vibrant hues and fluid lines printed directly from stones, making posters affordable and ubiquitous. This medium democratized art, transforming public walls into galleries that promoted stars like Guilbert, who rose from humble beginnings to international fame. As a testament to Lautrec's innovative style—blending Japanese print influences with raw Parisian energy—this work highlights the cultural fusion of music halls and visual art. It reminds us how these posters not only advertised shows but preserved a fleeting era of bohemian exuberance, bridging high art and popular entertainment.

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...