Marcelle Lender and Eva Lavalliére in a Revue at the Variétés
Original title: Marcelle Lender and Eva Lavalliére in a Revue at the Variétés
kurzbeschreibung
Two dancers and one further figure fill the stage of the Parisian Variétés theatre in this crayon lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec from 1895. Printed in olive green on wove paper, the sheet gives a lively impression of the performance, with the figures only sketchily indicated.
Description
At the front, a person in uniform and cap turns slightly to the left. Beside them stand two women who face this figure: one wears a long-sleeved dress and has dark hair, the other a short-sleeved dress and lighter hair. Behind them, further revue personnel suggest themselves, peopling the stage. Flat and sketchy, the figures remain, carried out uniformly in olive green on white, woven paper. The layout feels asymmetrical: the main figures in the middle, the background figures distributed to the sides.
Context
This lithograph was made in 1895 for the Variétés theatre in Paris, where Marcelle Lender and Eva Lavalliére appeared in a revue. Toulouse-Lautrec was known for his scenes of Parisian nightlife, especially theatre and cabaret subjects. At a time when lithography was gaining importance as an artistic means of expression, he used it for posters and prints.
Impact
The reduced colour range and the sketchy execution give the sheet a dynamic, lively note without going into detail. Olive green plunges the scene into a uniform, almost nocturnal mood that underlines the stage presence of the figures. The viewer senses the movement and the light of the performance.
Technique
A crayon lithograph, printed in olive green on wove paper, existing in only one state. The medium allowed Toulouse-Lautrec fine lines and shading, while the sketchy quality is typical of his prints.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)