Original brush, spatter and crayon lithograph printed in colors on wove poster paper backed with linen. Signed on the stone with the artist's monogram, lower left. An impression of Wittrock's fourth and final version of his second state (B) of three states, without the remarque but with the name of the publisher added to the stone. Published by Kleinmann with his name and address added to the stone, lower right.

Image: 31 1/4" x 23 9/16", sheet: 34 1/4" x 26 1/4"
Catalogue reference: Adhémar 116; Wittrock P14Biv; Delteil 354

May Belfort, a pretty young Irish singer of old songs and ballads who fancied Kate Greenaway dresses, puffed sleeves and a ruffled mob cap surmounted by a bow, was probably seen by Lautrec in 1895 at Les Décadents,   a noisy but picturesque "café-concert".   She often cradled a black cat in her arms while she sang.   As Gustave Coquiot recalled, "This bleating ewe in a baby costume, with ringlets tumbling over her shoulder . . . held a black kitten in her arms and sang, 'I've got a little cat, and I'm very fond of that . . .,' while the audience would shout the chorus".   (The song in question is the famous 1892 English music-hall number "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow-Wow," words and music by Joseph Tabrar).