Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901 )Aristide Bruant. Poster. 1893. Lithograph. [590 x 812]. Delteil 349; Wittrock P10 b. Printed in black only. Beautiful and rare proof on thin yellowish vellum, with the letter "Prochainement / au / Théâtre / Aristide Bruant / dans / son Cabaret", and at the lower left edge of the sheet vertically the address "Imp. Chaix 20 rue Bergère Paris - 174-95 (inks Ch. Lorilleux et Cie)", inset. Small tear and accident with small lack at the foot of the sheet (the interlining coming off slightly). Traces of oxidized glue and small halo of moisture at the foot. Very rare. "Two known prints" according to Wittrock. Aristide Bruant (1851-1925) was a chansonnier and writer who marked his time with his realistic songs, his stage presence, his build, his husky voice and his very studied look. From 1881, he performed at the cabaret Le Chat Noir, for which he composed the famous Ballade du Chat noir. He then put on "a gamekeeper's outfit, a black corduroy jacket with matching breeches, stuffed into big black boots, a scarlet shirt and muffler, a huge black cape as a coat and, as a headgear, the black felt with wide edges that his friend Toulouse-Lautrec often sketched from the front, from the side or from the back." (Wikipedia). Later, he sang at the Mirliton, at the Ambassadeurs... He was known to apostrophize the customers, who appreciated his realistic repertoire and his gouaille. In 1885, he launched a magazine called Le Mirliton, of which he was the director. At the height of his fame, he moved to a castle in Courtenay. But he returned in May 1898 to Belleville, where he ran as a popular candidate for the legislature - without success.