A Drive in the Country

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 created the vibrant color lithograph, A Drive in the Country, in 1897. This dynamic work is a premiere example of fin-de-siècle printmaking, utilizing sophisticated color lithography techniques on ivory wove paper. As a key figure in modern art in France, Toulouse-Lautrec specialized in capturing the ephemeral nature of Parisian society during the Belle Époque, turning his observant eye toward both the high society and the working class of the city’s entertainment venues.

Toulouse-Lautrec often transformed everyday scenes of leisure and recreation into trenchant social observations. While the title suggests a pleasant ride outside the city, the lithograph embodies the artist's characteristic ability to convey psychological depth through composition. His signature style employed compositional flatness inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e prints, relying on stark, linear outlines and bold, emotive color applications to distinguish his graphic works. This technical mastery, especially in the complex production of multiple color prints, solidified Toulouse-Lautrec's reputation as a groundbreaking graphic artist who elevated the medium to the status of high art.

The work is classified as a print and resides in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a crucial document of the French graphic arts tradition of the late 19th century. Given the historical significance of the artist and the date of creation, this 1897 artwork is now widely accessible and frequently featured in public domain collections globally, underscoring the enduring influence of Toulouse-Lautrec’s pioneering contributions to modern prints.