May Milton
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1895
May Milton — Print, by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901), made in France, 19th century, dated 1895. Posters grew in popularity after 1881, when many restrictions on their placement were lifted and it became unlawful to remove or destroy them.
The first exhibition of posters took place in 1884, and they were soon accepted as a legitimate art form. Lautrec, a gifted draftsman, excelled at designing arresting lithographs. <em>May Milton</em>, one of his boldest compositions, illustrates Lautrec's innovative style based on a dynamic pattern of flat, simplified, brightly colored shapes and dramatic silhouettes. Lautrec, an astute observer of character and physical features, captured the life of a decadent era in his radically concise, vigorous representations.
May Milton was an English dancer who appeared at the Moulin Rouge, one of Paris's most popular café-concerts. This poster was made to advertise her tour of the United States. Physical description: color lithograph; Sheet: 79.5 x 61.5 cm (31 5/16 x 24 3/16 in.).
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Held by Cleveland Museum of Art (object no. 1952.10). The museum record attributes this piece to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901) in France, 19th century around 1895. Details beyond the museum's own catalogue entry have not been independently verified.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Sheet: 79.5 x 61.5 cm (31 5/16 x 24 3/16 in.)
- Materials techniques
- color lithograph
Identification
- Source note
- All details come from the object's own museum catalogue record; nothing has been copied from other entries.
- Museum object name
- Museum object number
- 1952.10
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.