Yvette Guilbert 

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captured Yvette Guilbert with oil on board in a portrait that is a striking study of form and character. The composition thrusts the figure forward, filling the frame with an immediacy that is both bold and intimate. The artist’s brushstrokes are assertive and expressive, building texture and depth with each stroke. Color is used judiciously: the red of Guilbert’s dress and hair contrasts vividly with the subdued greens and blues of the background, creating a visual tension that animates the piece. Lautrec’s rendering destabilizes traditional portraiture by exaggerating features and emphasizing theatricality. The stark contrast, the caricature-like features, and the performer's dramatic pose convey not just a likeness, but an interpretation of Guilbert's stage persona. The loose handling of paint and the raw, exposed ground are essential to the work's aesthetic and conceptual impact. This treatment aligns with the broader modernist project of revealing the materiality of art, challenging fixed meanings, and embracing new modes of representation.