Yvette Guilbert

Yvette Guilbert.

The ultimate over-indulged celebrity during the fin-de-siècle. Her husky, raunchy voice would blare songs about the lower-class life or being drunk in nightclubs and cabarets in Montmartre.

Although she was not the most talented performer in her day, she was popular. Why? The recognition of her materialized black gloves and her smooth, satin dress made her known. Monsieur Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captured this image here, along with every other Parisian artist trying to pay his rent or get another glass of absinthe, and certainly dramatized this iconography.

Look at her face. Her features are almost indistinguishable. Her red lips, however, are bold and daring…demonstrating the familiarization with feminism and lipstick. The broad, vigorous paint strokes evoke a sense of bewilderment, but satisfaction. Yes, you could say Mademoiselle Guilbert had the easy life.

Easy life - what an unfamiliar concept. What would I give to go back in time and gallivant with the bohemians? Just think, living a life of near-complete independence…no worries, no stress, no cares. I may be implying too much of a strain on this concept, but the idea is there. That’s all that matters.