Cleveland Museum of Art

May Belfort

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Date

1895

Medium

oil on millboard

Culture

France, 19th century

Department

Drawings

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was inspired by café concerts, popular places of Parisian entertainment that featured singers or other performers. This drawing depicts May Belfort, one such entertainer, who the artist discovered in 1895 during a visit to the popular nightclub Les Décadents. Belfort soon became one of Lautrec's favorite models and is seen here wearing the ruffled dress and bonnet that became a signature of her performances. The singer adopted a babyish voice and stood motionless on the stage, encouraging her fans to shout lyrics along with her. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec depicted May Belfort in numerous prints, drawings, posters, and paintings.

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