Adieu

The work Adieu by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1895, is a significant example of the artist's prolific output in graphic arts. Classified specifically as a print, this piece utilizes the demanding medium of lithography, executed in black ink on fine velin paper. Created toward the close of the pivotal French period spanning 1876 to 1900, the image captures the psychological depth and fleeting intimacy that defined the Fin de Siècle era.

Toulouse-Lautrec excelled in printmaking, utilizing the stark contrasts afforded by the lithograph technique to convey atmosphere and character with minimal means. Unlike the saturated colors of his famous posters, this work relies on the economy of line, demonstrating his mastery of observation and his ability to capture gesture and expression quickly. The composition reflects the artist's dedication to portraying subjects drawn from the nightlife, cabarets, and private lives of the Parisian working class and bourgeoisie, often filtered through an unsentimental realism characteristic of his unique perspective on modernity. This classification as a print highlights the increasing importance of graphic arts for dissemination and accessibility during this time.

As an essential component of the era extending from 1876 to 1900, this piece cemented Toulouse-Lautrec's reputation not merely as an illustrator, but as a fine artist whose output elevated the status of lithographic prints. The style clearly reflects Post-Impressionist influences filtered through the flatness and sharp angles derived from Japanese ukiyo-e prints, which heavily influenced French artists of the late nineteenth century. Due to its age and historical importance, the artwork is generally considered to be in the public domain, ensuring that high-quality reference materials are widely accessible for scholarly study. This exceptional example of French graphic art is maintained in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.