La Troupe de Mademoiselle Eglantine

1896

14 3/4 x 24 1/8 in /
35.6 x 61.0 cm

Key stone printed in turquoise-blue, color stones in red and yellow
Commissioned by Jane Avril

The poster, with its particularly enticing exuberance, was reproduced in monochrome in Le Courrier Francais on 16 February 1896. It was used to advertise the appearance of Eglantine Demay, Jane Avril, Cleopatre and Gazelle in the Quadrille Naturaliste, at the Palace Theatre in London. The dance had been developed from the can-can, created by Celeste Mogador, and was performed in the formation of four, mainly at the Elysee Montmartre, the Jardin de Paris, the Frascati and the Moulin Rouge.

In a letter written on 19 January 1896 in London (Musee d'Albi), Jane Avril and Eglantine asked Lautrec for the poster, giving exact wording for the text: ‘Troupe de Mlle Eglantine./1 Eglantine, 2 Jane Avril/3 Cleopatre 4 Gazelle/"Palace Theatre," because we shall certainly be appearing in other places as well, and then we could use the same poster. Thanks in advance and good luck and every success with the work...Please answer straight away, because the first night is the evening of Monday 20th, and we want people to see our poster before that. So please do your best...'.

References: Wittrock P21, Adriani 162