Original crayon, brush, spatter and transferred screen lithograph printed in four colors (green, black, yellow, red-orange) on wove poster paper. Signed on the stone with the artist's script signature lower right "T-Lautrec". Commissioned by Ed. Fournier, owner of Divan Japonais; printed by Edward Ancourt, Paris, with his credit line on the stone, lower right. A fine, richly printed impression of the only state, with fresh colors on a full sheet, backed with linen. In excellent condition.

Image: 32" x 24 5/16"; sheet: 39 1/4" x 26 3/4", framed: 43 5/8" x 35 5/16"
Catalogue reference: Delteil 341, Adhémar 11, Wittrock P11, Adriani 8

Toulouse-Lautrec drew the DIVAN JAPONAIS poster on stone at the studio of Edward Ancourt in January, 1893, but he had been working on the theme since the previous year.   It was to mark the opening of the Cafe-Concert of the same name in the Rue des Martyrs.   Exploiting the vogue for Japanese style and taste the cafe was decorated with oriental themes and furnished with lacquer work.   Unfortunately, despite an initial success with Yvette Guilbert, it only remained opened for some six months.   In the composition Yvette Guilbert can be seen in the background with her characteristic elbow length black gloves bathed in yellow light, but the figure in the audience in the foreground is Jane Avril whose beauty, style and amazing red hair was taking Paris by storm.   The man accompanying her is Edouard Dujardin, a Wagnerian critic.   The inclusion of these figures was intended to illustrate the exclusive nature of the establishment and its celebrity clientele.   Lautrec used a deliberately Japanese atmosphere in his treatment of the bold silhouette and space to create perhaps the most famous image in his graphic oeuvre.