"We hardly need to be told that Polaire was a striking presence
on stage. She was Emilie Bouchard (1877-1939), originally from Algiers,
who was from all accounts quite a character. Endowed by nature with
a rather generous bust, she ignored the Victorian dress code which
demanded that woman conceal their breasts as much as possible, and
refused to wear the confining corsets, hence she tended to stand out
conspicuously, and it is not beyond conjecture that this may have
been at least partly responsible for her entry into show business
as a cafe singer at the age of 15. To her credit, she made the most
of the opportunity, and seized the first chance to perform in a stage
production. There, she surprised everyone by revealing herself as
a sensitive and intelligent comedienne, and within a year was playing
soubrette leads in comedies" (Wine
Spectator 184)
Lautrec has absolutely captured the essence that is Polaire in
this, one of his most magnificent, rendering for Le
Rire.
Speaking to her audience Polaire says provocatively, "You!...Old
Gentleman, once known from Paimpol to Sebastopol (a reference to
the Crimean War), so short of breath, could you kindly take care
of the stars and…Polaire?" (text bottom right)
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