Plate: TL. 16

"This Irish singer, the lover of May Milton, came to Paris via the London music halls and performed at the cafe-concert des Decadents. Lautrec shows her performing a favorite song, 'Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow.' Her real name was May Egan...Lautrec became fascinated with her. She is the subject of several of his lithographs and paintings, usually shown performing her act, as she is here" (San Diego Museum of Art)

"...appearing onstage dressed as a baby holding a black kitten in her arms, and 'miaowing' her popular song, 'Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow,' whose lines had a double meaning which was not lost in the French-speaking audience, 'I've got a pussycat, I'm very fond of that.' Henry (Lautrec) enthusiastic, later wrote letters to friends trying to find a mate for the cat, and even got a cat for himself" (Frey, p.382)

During the 1960s the renowned French printer, Mourlot Freres, printed this superb series "Les Affiches de Toulouse-Lautrec" for collectors. They are reduced lithographic versions of Lautrec's most famous works. They are truly the most beautiful printing we have been able to find in this size format.

As vintage printings of Lautrec's work, in all formats, reach high prices, this mid-century printing offers a superb alternative at a reasonable price that will only appreciate in value.