← Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Miss May Belfort Taking a Bow

Original title: Miss May Belfort Taking a Bow

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Date

1895

Medium

Crayon and brush lithograph with scraper printed in dark olive green on wove paper; only state

Dimensions

Image: 14 3/4 × 10 1/4 in. (37.5 × 26 cm) Sheet: 21 5/8 × 14 9/16 in. (54.9 × 37 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1989

kurzbeschreibung

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captures the moment in this 1895 lithograph when the singer May Belfort bows after her performance. Printed in dark olive green on paper, it is the only known example and exists in a single state.

Description

May Belfort wears a long, elegant dress whose folds and shadows are carefully worked out. The bow is emphasized by her lowered head and open hand. Behind her, blurred vertical lines suggest a backdrop or curtains. The dark olive green drawing on white paper feels minimalist and dramatic.

Context

The Irish singer and actress May Belfort performed in 1890s Parisian cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge. Toulouse-Lautrec portrayed her several times in posters and prints, often in intimate stage moments. This lithograph was made when the artist was widely known for his depictions of Parisian nightlife.

Impact

The dark, monochromatic color gives the sheet a serious, almost intimate mood. The clear lines and reduced rendering draw attention to the gesture of the bow, which expresses both grace and weariness.

Technique

For this work Toulouse-Lautrec used crayon and brush as well as a scraper. The print was pulled in a single state on wove paper. The interplay of crayon and scraper allowed for fine lines and soft tonal transitions.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)