Art Institute of Chicago

Divan Japonais

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Date

1893

Medium

Color lithograph on cream wove paper

Culture

France

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The dancer Jane Avril was one of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s closest friends and favorite subjects. Here, though, she is depicted as a spectator, carefully observing the performance of her rival, Yvette Guilbert, at the Divan Japonais club. Montmartre’s nightclub owners lured in potential customers with the notoriety of their (often female) performers, who were typically expected to entertain their audiences both on and off the stage. Avril’s striking black dress and hat stand in stark contrast to the vivid colors and ruffled petticoats she wore while dancing. Even as an audience member, however, she remains on display both to her male companion and to viewers of the poster.

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