Miss May Belfort, Large Plate (Miss May Belfort, grande planche) 1895

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this print of Miss May Belfort using lithography, a process of printing from a flat stone or metal plate. It's a technique that democratized image-making in the late 19th century. The grainy texture results from the artist drawing with a greasy crayon onto the lithographic stone. The stone is then treated so that ink adheres only to the greasy areas, allowing for multiple impressions to be made. This print exemplifies the embrace of industrial techniques within fine art, blurring traditional hierarchies between art and craft. The rapid, sketchy quality echoes the speed and dynamism of modern life. Lautrec captures the essence of Miss Belfort, a popular cabaret performer, with minimal lines. The immediacy of the lithographic process mirrors the ephemeral nature of performance itself, challenging our expectations of permanence in art. Ultimately, this print reveals the power of materials and techniques to capture a fleeting moment in time.