Portrait of the Singer May Belfort with Loose Hanging Hair

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (mentioned on object), 1895

With her enchanting English accent, the Irish singer May Belfort became all the rage in Paris. Lautrec portrayed her multiple times. In this case, he accentuated the effect of the footlights (spotlights along the front of the stage). Belfort’s act consisted of singing nursery rhymes with a double meaning in a lisping voice and with a sad face, dressed in typical English clothing and holding a cat.

  • Artwork typeprint
  • Object numberRP-P-1949-602
  • Dimensionsheight 308 mm x width 217 mm, height 565 mm x width 403 mm
  • Physical characteristicslithografie in olijfgroen