Miss May Belfort (Medium Plate)
Original title: Miss May Belfort (Medium Plate)
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this lithograph, Miss May Belfort (Mittlere Platte), in 1895. It shows the Irish singer May Belfort in historical costume, a cat in her arms. The image was printed in dark olive green on wove paper and belongs to a series of portrayals of the performer.
Description
May Belfort stands upright and self-assured, her gaze turned to the left. She wears an elegant gown with wide sleeves and elaborate headwear. In her hand she holds a cat. Behind her, a window with a blind opens to let in daylight. To the left, a piece of furniture suggests itself, perhaps a piano or table; to the right, a chair. Dark greys dominate the image, with fine lines and flat areas of shading shaping her figure.
Context
May Belfort was a well-known Irish singer who performed in 1890s Parisian cabarets such as the Mirliton. Toulouse-Lautrec portrayed her several times, often in costumes reminiscent of the Victorian era. The lithograph was made when the artist was deeply engaged with Montmartre nightlife, capturing artistic personalities in posters and prints. This sheet is part of a series showing Belfort in various poses.
Impact
The reduced palette and clear linework bring the figure and her bearing to the fore. She appears both elegant and distant. Historical costume and modern printmaking combine into a timeless, almost iconic presence.
Technique
The sheet is a lithograph, printed with crayon, brush, and spatter technique in dark olive green on wove paper. It is the only state. The mix of fine chalk strokes and spattered shading gives the surface a lively texture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)