A Cemetery in Galicia, from Au Pied du Sinaï

A Cemetery in Galicia, from Au Pied du Sinaï is a powerful lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1897. This classification of print, executed with precise technical skill on cream wove paper, exemplifies Lautrec's masterful command of graphic arts during the late 19th century in France. The work was specifically published as one of ten lithographic plates accompanying the limited edition book Au Pied du Sinaï (At the Foot of Sinai), a collaborative project with journalist and future Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, who provided the descriptive texts concerning Jewish life in Eastern Europe.

The subject matter of this piece, a somber cemetery scene, diverges slightly from the familiar Parisian cabaret and portraiture for which Toulouse-Lautrec is most famous. This image illustrates Clemenceau's observations during his travels through the region of Galicia, then situated within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The stark composition and highly contrasted use of line convey a sense of solemnity and cultural specificity appropriate to the text it accompanies. Lautrec’s refined economy of detail focuses the viewer on the architectural and atmospheric elements of the burial grounds.

As an exceptional example of fine art book illustration, this lithograph confirms Toulouse-Lautrec's enduring legacy as a pivotal figure in French printmaking. The high quality and historical significance of the image have ensured its longevity beyond the original limited publication. The work resides permanently in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, making these important prints accessible for scholarly study and public appreciation today.