c.1917 Toulouse-Lautrec Lithograph Signed by Aristide Bruant

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c.1917 Toulouse-Lautrec Lithograph Signed by Aristide Bruant

About the Item

Aristide Bruant was a prominent star of Montmartre, and when Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec began showing up at the cabarets and clubs, Bruant became one of the artist's first friends. In 1885, Bruant opened his own Montmartre club, a place he called "Le Mirliton". Evidently, he had such a distinct persona that a simple back view was enough for people to recognize him. He made a successful business out of bringing the latest and most provocative street culture to his club, appealing to every kind of taste.

When Bruant performed at the club les Ambassadeurs, he asked Lautrec to paint an imposing portrait of him for the poster. At Bruant's insistence, "Ambassadeurs: Aristide Bruant" was posted all over the cabaret, and all over the streets of Paris, drawing considerable attention not just to Bruant but also to the young painter who had so accurately and strikingly portrayed him. It remains one of Lautrec's most famous paintings.

Lautrec's poster presents rather than portrays Bruant. Standing in a doorway, a sinister silhouette lingering behind him, he cuts a grand figure holding broad dominion. Still wearing his scarf, his gloves and carrying a walking stick, he enters the elite cafés as a ruffian just off the streets. Lautrec's long familiarity with Bruant, his act, his costume, and repertoire resulted in a daringly abstract summation that established the singer's image for the rest of his career.

Bruant took the detail of his head and hat from Leutrec’s rendering and had it printed on glass for use on all sides of a large lantern hanging on the second story of the building. Once inside the cabaret, patrons could see Leutrec’s posters hanging on the wall and could purchase reduced versions as keepsakes. We believe this is where this litho came from. It is signed by Aristide Bruant along with a short note to his friend/composer, Stan Golestan, numbered 53, and dated January 1, 1917. The unusual part about this lithograph is that Bruant's scarf is yellow. In all the documentations we have researched, the scarf is either red or orange. We have sent out the photos of this lithograph for further research-- I will update the text once we receive more information.

Dimensions:
Height: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Width: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Lithograph
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1917
Condition:
Mint original condition.
Seller Location:
Chicago, IL
Reference Number:
Seller: jr74721stDibs: U09031082431998