Troupe de Mlle Eglantine

(After) Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901, France.) This hand-pulled lithograph was inspired by Toulouse-Lautrec's vintage 1896 advertising poster, "Troupe de Mlle Eglantine" (Mademoiselle Eglantine’s Troupe.) The image captures the energy and frivolity of the chorus line performing the can-can. In the bottom left corner, the work has the trademark initials of Lautrec, a signature of Lautrec, and the writing “122 J.P. Remond Lith.” right below the signature. [The lithograph was recreated using the same hand pulled process on a vintage press in 1999 by renowned lithographer and chromist, Jean-Pierre Remond (b.1946, France)] The unframed dimensions of the piece are approximately 31"x 24."

Note: The piece is sequentially numbered (122) and the word "chromist" refers to the printing of color in lithograph.

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec is best known for his portrayal of the colorful, provocative and decadent theatrical life of Paris in the late 1800s. He was a regular patron of Parisian cabarets, including the Moulin Rouge, and he was commissioned to produce a series of posters for the cabaret. This work frowned upon his peers, but he produced images that have endured as some of his most significant and most-loved works. Lautrec was commissioned by Miss Avril to create a poster advertising the performance of La Troupe de Mlle Eglantine, a group of cancan dancers – Jane Avril, Mlle Eglantine, Cléopatre and Gazelle (named in the text of the piece.) Avril is seen on the far left of the troupe. In his extraordinary composition that is all legs, frothy petticoats and plumed hats, Lautrec evokes the excitement of the wild and energetic movement of the dancers as they perform the cancan. The troupe is shown in line on stage, performing the ronde de jambe, or rotation of the leg. Although Avril is furthest from the viewer, Lautrec has given her prominence by having her step forward from the troupe and kicking in a more exaggerated manner than the other dancers. He magically captures the essence of this self-taught, idiosyncratic dancer. With her shock of orange hair, willowy features and vibrant, high-kicking action, Lautrec showed Avril to be the star of the stage.