Aristide Bruant, in His Cabaret

The gallant performer Aristide Bruant became known throughout Montmarte for the ability to capture the sentiments of working-class Parisians in his songs. Here Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec illustrated the essence of the audacious singer, portraying his trademark hat, scarf, and cloak in broad, flat planes of color to create an iconic image. Bruant himself was often seen in this garb on stage at his famous cabaret Le Mirliton, where he offered his witty, often-acerbic diatribes against the upper class.