La Clownesse au Moulin Rouge (Trial Proof)

1897

13 1/4 x 16 1/4 in /
33.0 x 40.6 cm

Only known proof of key stone printed in dark brown and color stone in grey-brown
On wove paper, torn across
UNIQUE

This print shows Cha-u-Kao (a nickname based on chahut-chaos or ‘noise and chaos,' the name of another dance), the female clown and gymnast, in the Moulin Rouge. She is arm-in-arm with Gabrielle la Danseuse, while Tristan Bernard (1866-1947) stands in profile in the background. La Gabrielle began appearing in Lautrec's works years earlier when she was still a young, attractive woman; however, here she appears aged and fat, particularly when contrasted with the corseted Cha-u-Kao. That said, the clowness herself is no longer the nubile creature of her early days at the Moulin Rouge-Lautrec was not attracted to the gymnast until her later years when, as can be seen in this image, she had evolved into a puffy, white-wigged, white-faced figure, with soft roll of flesh pouring over the edges of her décolleté clown costume, her drooping lids and double chins a contrast to her sprightly yellow tulle clown ruff. This Cha-u-Kao became a leitmotif for Lautrec's work over the next year or so, appearing in at least eight works.

This is the only known copy of the trial proof of the poster. It is said that Lautrec tore it in half, discarding it on the studio floor. It only survived after being taped back together by his assistants.

References: Wittrock 178, Adriani 203, Frey 193, 276, 418