Plate: TL. 31

"This is an advertisement for Jean Richepin's drama 'La Gitane'. The story follows the fatal attraction of various men to the heartless Spanish gypsy Rita. After her jealous husband and suitors kill each other off, she runs away with her younger brother-in-law. The lead in the Theatre Antoine's production was played by Martha Mellot, an actress and singer who was well known for her roles as a seductive 'femme fatale'. She was the wife of Alfred Natanson, one of the brothers who published La Revue Blanche. Lautrec has given a choreographic S-shape to the figure's swaggering posture, her face contorted in grotesque hilarity. She gives a pitiless jeer over her shoulder at one of her frantic lovers scrambling after a rival over the hilly Granada scenery" (San Diego Museum of Art)

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.