May Milton
Original title: May Milton
kurzbeschreibung
In 1895 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec portrayed the dancer May Milton for a poster advertising her appearance at a London variety theatre. The lithograph, printed in five colours on machine-made wove paper, captures her in a stage pose.
Description
A woman in a long, flowing dress leans dynamically to the right, one hand resting lightly near her face. Wavy hair falls over her shoulder. Large stylised letters spell out 'May Milton' behind her. A small musical figure appears in the lower right, caught in a fluid stance. Black and white dominate, but the five printed colours add accents.
Context
The sheet was made in 1895 for May Milton, an English dancer who performed in variety theatres in Paris and London. It was intended to promote her shows, though it may have been used only sparingly. During this period Toulouse-Lautrec produced numerous posters for Parisian nightclubs.
Impact
The clear layout and the sitter's elegant, almost weightless pose define the print. The limited palette and pronounced silhouette give it a bold, modern appeal.
Technique
The lithograph was printed in five colours on machine-made wove paper. This process allows fine lines and soft transitions, which Toulouse-Lautrec used to render the figure's flowing form. The large sheet (80 x 62.1 cm) follows the clear, legible-from-a-distance design typical of posters.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)