American Singer (from Le Café Concert) (1893, Met-Objekt 894)
Original title: American Singer (from Le Café Concert)
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captured an American singer in profile in this 1893 lithograph, part of the series Le Café Concert. The performer wears a ribbed shirt and a hat. Executed as a brush and spatter lithograph in black on Japan paper, the sheet belongs to the deluxe edition of that year.
Description
The singer faces left in side profile. He wears a ribbed shirt and a hat; his left hand holds an object resembling a cap or hat. Crisp lines define the clothing and headwear, while the background remains without detail. Black and white interplay uses shadow and light to shape the body.
Context
This 1893 print comes from the series Le Café Concert, in which Toulouse-Lautrec chronicled Parisian nightlife. It appeared as the artist gained fame for posters and prints that often featured singers and dancers from Montmartre. The American singer points to the international music scene in Parisian cabarets. The deluxe edition on Japan paper suggests a refined print run.
Impact
The spare but expressive linework emphasizes the singer's presence. Sparingly applied shadows and highlights give the figure liveliness and immediacy. The plain background pushes the person and his stance to the fore.
Technique
For this work Toulouse-Lautrec used brush and spatter lithography, printed in black on laid Japan paper. Only one state exists, issued in the deluxe edition of 1893. The technique allows fine tonal gradations and a spontaneous, sketch-like quality.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)