Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 - 1901), Au Moulin Rouge, La Goulue et sa sœur (La Gouluge and her sister at the Moulin Rouge), 1976 (1892)

Lithograph; Arches paper; 56 x 40 cm unframed; framed in a silver frame, 64 x 49 cm; signed on the plate l.d. Bound monogram "TL"; inscribed l.d. "Deschamps Grav.Lith.Mourlot imp. 76"; printed by master lithographer Henri Deschamps at Atelier Mourlot.La Goulue (The Glutton), born Louise Weber, was an ambitious country washerwoman who became famous dancing the cancan. Nicknamed for her insatiable appetite for life and food, she aggressively courted fame by dancing in see-through muslin panties, posing topless in publicity photos and cultivating a reputation for promiscuity. She quickly became popular for dancing in clubs throughout Paris, especially in the suburbs - both for her dancing skills and her brazen and daring behavior. Her costume consisted of a gown with a deep neckline, an often copied hairstyle and a black ribbon choker. Her look was so distinctive that in Lautrec's most famous paintings he didn't even need to show her from the front. Her over-the-top personality and dancing ability were noticed by the owners of the Moulin Rouge, where she made her debut in 1891. Her most famous number is a dance like a can-can called the chahut, which sheshe performed with Jules Renaudin, a former dancer turned wine merchant.The luminaires shown in the visuals are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a commercial offer.