Miss Loïe Fuller

Parisian audiences were captivated by Loïe Fuller (1862–1928), the American dancer seen in this print, whose unique performances involved manipulating voluminous translucent gowns with the aid of large poles in each hand. Fuller danced in a specially designed space featuring a glass floor illuminated from below and surrounded by mirrors. Electric lights of various colors projected onto the stage created an ethereal, swirling effect. Fuller’s extraordinary dance was the subject of Toulouse-Lautrec’s most abstract lithograph. The artist used layers of colored ink—including some metallic tones—to convey the movement and energy of Fuller's performances.