Description
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – Book Plate XXIV Lithographic Print – Jane Avril (1899/1951)
This lithographic reproduction, printed by Mourlot in 1951, presents Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1899 poster of the dancer Jane Avril, one of his most recognizable subjects and a frequent presence in his work. Avril, a prominent performer of the Parisian café-concert scene, was closely associated with the artist, who depicted her with both familiarity and formal invention.
The composition is defined by its striking economy: a pale ground contrasts with the bold silhouette of Avril’s black dress, animated by sinuous lines and accents of red and yellow. Her exaggerated, serpentine pose reflects both her distinctive dancing style and Lautrec’s ability to distill movement into graphic form. The integration of text and figure, along with the flattened space, exemplifies the artist’s mature poster aesthetic.
Originally created during the height of Lautrec’s engagement with Montmartre nightlife, the Jane Avril poster stands as a synthesis of observation and stylization. Mourlot’s mid-20th-century edition preserves the clarity of line and color relationships that define the original lithograph, contributing to the continued circulation of Lautrec’s imagery in the postwar period.
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