TOULOUSE-LAUTREC’S YVETTE GUILBERT

(TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, Henri de) ROGER-MARX, Claude. Yvette Guilbert. Paris: Au Pont des Arts, (1950). Slim folio, original illustrated cream paper covers, original glassine wrappers, gatherings and plates laid in as issued. $950.

Limited edition facsimile of Toulouse-Lautrec’s studies of the “diseuse fin de siècle,” number 163 of 1,700 copies, with original lithographic frontispiece and 31 full-page lithographs of Yvette Guilbert, three in color and one serving as the back cover.

“Yvette Guilbert debuted on stage in 1887 as an actress in a traditional theater in Paris, but she soon moved to Montmartre’s more avant-garde performance venues. With her unconventional singing voice, and an unfashionably tall and thin figure, Guilbert was an unlikely star of Montmartre’s cafés-concerts. However, her success largely came from her ability to turn these unexceptional qualities into attributes. Rather than singing in a straightforward manner, Guilbert would half-sing, half-speak her ditties, earning her the title of the ‘diseuse fin de siècle’ (end-of-the-century teller). Similarly, rather than concealing her lanky figure, Guilbert wore long black gloves and simple dresses with plunging necklines to exaggerate it, establishing herself as a stand-out from the more buxom performers. By 1890, Guilbert was appearing regularly at the Moulin Rouge, where she perfected her personal style. Her distinctive performances earned Guilbert great fame and a cult status. She became a favorite subject for artists, including Lautrec… After making her mark at the Moulin Rouge, Guilbert went on to appear at other Montmartre establishments, including the Divan Japonais and the Ambassadeurs” (National Gallery of Art).

Fine condition, with only moderate chipping to original glassine.