Cover - Yvette Guilbert
Original title: Cover - Yvette Guilbert
kurzbeschreibung
This 1898 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, titled 'Umschlag - Yvette Guilbert', captures the French singer and actress Yvette Guilbert in a lively pose. Printed on blue wove paper, it belongs to a series Lautrec created for an album dedicated to her.
Description
A woman is seen in profile, facing left. Short, wavy hair frames her face; she wears a long-sleeved dress with a low neckline. Her stance is dance-like, hips slightly forward, one arm hanging down. Expressive strokes and lines run through her face. Above the figure, the words 'Yvette Guilbert' appear in large letters, with the note 'Drawn by H.deToulouse Lautrec' below. At the bottom is a handwritten dedication or signature from Guilbert.
Context
Toulouse-Lautrec made this sheet in 1898 as the cover for a portfolio of lithographs dedicated to the singer Yvette Guilbert. Guilbert was a famous Parisian cabaret performer in the 1890s, known for her black gloves and her singing. Lautrec had already portrayed her on posters and in other prints. The work dates from a period when he was experimenting intensively with lithography, using it for posters and album covers.
Impact
The reduced colour palette and clear linework give the print a direct, expressive appeal. The dynamic pose and bold lettering lend it a poster-like presence that underscores Guilbert's character. The expressive strokes convey movement and energy without getting lost in details.
Technique
The lithograph on blue wove paper was made by drawing with lithographic chalk or ink on the stone and then printing it. Black and white dominate the colour scheme, while the blue paper serves as the background and gives the print its own tonality. Contours and shading create depth and texture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)