The artwork “Yvette Guilbert” by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec dates back to 1893, reflecting the Art Nouveau movement’s influence on modern art. This sketch and study measuring 54.5 by 38 cm captures the essence of the performer Yvette Guilbert, recognized for her singing performances in the cabarets of Paris. The piece is currently part of the collection at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum located in Madrid, Spain.
In the artwork, the French singer Yvette Guilbert is depicted with a distinctively stylized form, a signature aspect of Toulouse-Lautrec’s renowned artistic style. The composition emphasizes elongated limbs and a slender body, highlighting the elegance and dynamism of Guilbert’s stage presence. The artist employs swift, confident strokes to outline her figure, and the sparing use of color accentuates the contours of her apparel, suggesting movement and poise. An ethereal quality permeates the artwork, with the subject’s facial expression carrying a sense of poise and an air of performance, evoking the atmosphere of lively Parisian nightlife that Toulouse-Lautrec frequently celebrated in his work. The backdrop of the paper provides a warm, neutral canvas against which the figure comes forth, allowing viewers to focus on the skillful interplay of line and minimal color.
