Elegant can-can
Avril (born Jeanne Richepin) discovered her love of dance at the Bal Bullier dance-hall and came to fame with her performances at Le Moulin Rouge. Her distinctive costumes and elusive sensuality set her apart from the provocative gyrations of the typical can-can dancer, known for kicking their legs high in the air to reveal their underwear.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Theatre programme for Le Missionnaire by Marcel Luguet (Théâtre Libre, 25 April 1894), 1894
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Poster for the Café-concert Le Divan Japonais, 1893
From dancer to muse
Avril was a friend of Toulouse-Lautrec and regularly visited his studio. His prints emphasise her reserved beauty, focusing on her elegant silhouette, serious expression, and flaming red hair.
In his depictions of Avril, Lautrec bridged the gap between popular culture and art. He presented her not only as a dancer, but also in the audience at the theatre, and examining a lithograph at a print studio.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Lithography, Cover for the album L'Estampe originale (album I) (La lithographie, couverture pour la première année de L'Estampe originale), 1893
Further reading
- Richard Thomson et al., Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre, Washington 2005
- Nancy Ireson et al., Toulouse-Lautrec and Jane Avril. Beyond the Moulin Rouge, London 2011