Miss May Belfort Taking a Bow 1895

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captured Miss May Belfort in lithograph, immortalizing a moment of performance. Note the bizarre object in her hands: a black cat. This feline figure isn't merely a pet; it's a symbol, laden with historical weight. Cats, especially black ones, have long been associated with witchcraft, darkness, and the feminine mystique. In ancient Egypt, they were revered, protectors of the home, and embodiments of grace. Yet, as the Middle Ages dawned, they became symbols of ill omen, companions of the accused witch. Toulouse-Lautrec, knowingly or not, tapped into this deep well of cultural memory. Belfort's gesture, the bow, is itself a theatrical echo. We see it in countless images of performers throughout history. But here, combined with the black cat, it takes on an unsettling quality. It is a dark acknowledgement of the collective subconscious, where fear and fascination intertwine. This image reminds us that symbols never truly die; they resurface, evolve, and haunt us with the echoes of past beliefs.