Jane Avril
Original title: Jane Avril
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike most dancer portraits of her time, this 1893 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec shows Jane Avril not mid-dance but in an idiosyncratic pose on a staircase. The artist used five colors and machine-made wove paper for one of his best-known posters.
Description
A woman in an orange dress descends a staircase, her posture animated and slightly distorted. To her right, another figure sits, touched by the woman. A large, stylized shoe with sheet music dominates the foreground and pulls the eye. Bold, high-contrast colors define the image, especially the luminous orange of the dress and the gray of the shoe. Even lighting emphasizes the outlines of figures and objects.
Context
In 1893 the poster was made for Jane Avril's performance at the Parisian music hall Jardin de Paris. The dancer was a familiar figure of the Belle Époque and inspired several works by Toulouse-Lautrec. The lithograph was printed in an edition intended for public posting.
Impact
The dynamic lines and strong color contrasts engage the viewer directly. Through the stylized movement and flat treatment, the sheet acquires a modern, poster-like impact.
Technique
This print employed lithography, printed in five colors on machine-made wove paper. Stone or zinc plates were likely used, with each color applied separately. This method allowed precise reproduction of the clear lines and flat tones.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)