Moulin Rouge: La Goulue
Date
Credits
Format
- Poster 1648
- Advertisement 194
- Advertising 481
Type of Work
- Finished work 5469
The poster was created to advertise the famous dancers La Goulue and “No-Bones” Valentin, and the new Paris dance hall Moulin Rouge.
It was probably printed in about 3,000 copies.
The poster became an immediate sensation due to its originality and scale, revealing Toulouse-Lautrec’s brilliance as a draughtsman. The bold color, striking design, and innovative use of silhouettes inspired by Japanese art fascinated the public. The four-color lithograph was created to advertise Moulin Rouge, a popular French Club. The audience has been reduced to silhouettes to make the performers the center of attention as well as evoke Japanese art, which was then in vogue.
“Moulin Rouge: La Goulue” is not just a poster, but a piece of art that captures the energy, excitement, and glamour of the Moulin Rouge. It reflects Toulouse-Lautrec’s unique ability to convey character and atmosphere, making it a timeless masterpiece in the world of graphic design.
Title: Moulin Rouge: La Goulue
Artist: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, Albi 1864–1901 Saint-André-du-Bois)
Printer: Affiches Américaines, Charles Lévy (Paris)
Date: 1891
Medium: Lithograph printed in four colors. Three sheets of wove paper.
Dimensions: sheet: 74 13/16 x 45 7/8 in. (190 x 116.5 cm)
Classifications: Prints, Posters
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1932
Accession Number: 32.88.12
Denver Art Museum. "Toulouse-Lautrec from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 5, 1999–July 4, 1999.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Power of Prints: The Legacy of William M. Ivins and A. Hyatt Mayor," January 26–May 22, 2016.