Valentin le Desossé (Valentin the Boneless) flashes his characteristic angular profile behind a female dance partner at the Moulin Rouge. Valentin was a regular performer at the venerable cabaret; he was most famously depicted there in Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1891 poster, Moulin Rouge / La Goulue (see PAI-LXXXII, 447). As for his companion, the jury is out—she is not La Goulue, but she did make another appearance in Villon’s oeuvre in issue #2 of Cocorico magazine from January 15, 1899, titled “Au Music Hall.” Villon’s dreamy impression provides an intimate look at the iconic music hall and its renowned dancer, making this a very valuable original work by Villon.
literature: PAI-LXXXVIII, 501