Miss May Belfort in the Irish and American Bar, rue Royale (Miss Belfort Belfort au Irish and American Bar, Rue Royale) 1895

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec sketched Miss May Belfort with crayon and brush and spatter tusche. Looking closely, the lithographic crayon yields soft lines, while the brush and spatter tusche add depth and texture. It's a print, so part of a potentially endless multiplication, which mirrors the mass entertainment that was emerging at this time. Toulouse-Lautrec expertly captures the performer’s image, and the fleeting moment of her presence in the Irish and American Bar. Consider how the lithographic process itself contributes to the artwork's meaning. The ability to create multiple impressions democratizes art, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. This reflects the changing social landscape of late 19th-century Paris, where mass culture and entertainment blurred the lines between high and low art. The marks and textures, seemingly simple, hold the energy of the artist’s hand and the spirit of a modern age. The lithograph challenges traditional notions of artistic value and originality.