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The Cleveland Museum of Art
May Belfort
Description
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.
Provenance
(Bernheim-Jeune, Paris); (Etienne Bignou, Paris); (Alexander Reid & Lefevre, Ltd., London); (Kraushaar Galleries, New York); Lizzie P. Bliss [1864–1931], New York, by descent to her estate; estate of Lizzie P. Bliss, New York; George M. Moffett, Jr., Queenstown, MD; (Maynard Walker Gallery, New York); Leonard C. Hanna Jr. [1889–1957], Cleveland, bequeathed to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH; Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Dimensions
86 × 71.5 cm
Movement / Period
Accession No
1958.54
Official Citations
Curatorial Affinity Stream
Continuing the Universe of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901)
Drawings • France, 19th century • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries
Continuous Discovery