Moulin Rouge: La Goulue

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.