Yvette Guilbert (1894, Met-Objekt 782)
Original title: Yvette Guilbert
kurzbeschreibung
The singer Yvette Guilbert appears in profile in this 1894 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The print belongs to a portfolio that includes a lithographed cover and sixteen crayon lithographs in olive green on Japan paper. She is shown holding an umbrella, accompanied by a French text about her voice and personality.
Description
Seen from the side, Yvette Guilbert wears a collared jacket over a shirt. Her hair is pulled back into a bun, and her right hand grips an umbrella. A French text about her voice, appearance, and character runs behind her. The image is in black and white and renders her with detailed realism.
Context
The album appeared in 1894, when Toulouse-Lautrec frequently portrayed Parisian nightlife and its entertainers. Yvette Guilbert was a well-known singer and actress of the fin de siècle, famous for her long black gloves and provocative performances. The portfolio pays artistic tribute to the singer and was issued with lithographs on Japan paper.
Impact
Precise lines and a realistic approach define the print and capture Guilbert's essence. Image and text together create a documentary yet artistic presence that draws the viewer into the world of the Parisian variety stage.
Technique
Executed as a crayon lithograph and printed in olive green on Japan paper, the work exists only in the single state. It was printed for an album with a lithographed cover, a process that faithfully transfers the drawing's delicate lines and shading.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)