Jane Avril

Based on the iconic 1893 poster of Jane Avril by Henri de Toulouse Lautrec (1864-1901, France.) The work was commissioned by Miss Avril to mark her debut at the Jardin de Paris nightclub in Montmartre. She is depicted from the perspective of the orchestra pit doing a can-can kick on stage, and her image is framed by the hand of an unseen musician holding a bass. To create the print, Lautrec used several lithographic stones, one for each color—inky black, acidic orange, yellow, and green on machine wove paper. The piece is marked (in French) as printed by Chaix, Paris, and distributed (depot) by Chez Kleinmann, with a plate signature/date (Lautrec 93.) This 36" x 26" (After Lautrec) limited edition work of art is marked "Silk Screen Signed in Plate" in the lower right and is pencil numbered (89/500) in the lower left.

Jane Avril was one of the major starlets on the dance scene in 1880s Paris. This lithograph is an advertisement for Avril's major gig at the Jardin de Paris. Its aim was to generate excitement (and ticket sales) for an upcoming performance. On the left, Avril wearing a frilly costume, performs one of her signature kicks. On the right, a phallic symbol in the form of the neck of a bass or cello is grasped by an unseen musician's hand and provides the lower border of the image.