At the Moulin Rouge: The Franco-Russian Alliance
Medium
Crayon, brush, and spatter lithograph printed in black on imitation japan paper; only state
Dimensions
Image: 13 3/16 × 9 13/16 in. (33.5 × 25 cm) Sheet: 18 1/4 × 12 1/8 in. (46.4 × 30.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982
Accession Number
1984.1203.158
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 1890s Paris with *At the Moulin Rouge: Franco-Russian Alliance*, a striking 1893 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec with contributions noted from Edward Ancourt and Lscarmouche. This, brush, and sp lithograph—printed in black on imitation japan paper—is a rare "only state" impression, measuring about 13 x 10 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Bequest of Scofieldayer, 1982), it captures the electric atmosphere of the famed Moulin Rouge cabaret through intertwined male and female figures. Toulouse-Lautrec, a Post-Impressionist master of the Belle Époque, revolutionized poster art with his bold lithography techniques, blending fine-art precision with commercial vibrancy. His spatter method added dynamic texture, evoking the smoky haze and movement of Montmartre nightlife. The title playfully nods to the 1893 Franco-Russian Alliance—a pivotal diplomatic pact strengthening ties against common foes—perhaps satirizing high politics through the cabaret's risqué dance floor, a hallmark of his unflinching gaze on society's underbelly. This print not only showcases Lautrec's innovative printmaking but also encapsulates fin-de-siècle cultural fusion: entertainment as political commentary. A window into Paris's bohemian heart, it invites visitors to ponder how art bridged cabaret glamour and global intrigue.
About the Artist
Edward Ancourt|Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec|L'Escarmouche (French|French) · 1800 |1864 –1899 |1901
French, 19th century|French, Albi 1864–1901 Saint-André-du-Bois