Adolphe—The Sad Young Man

Adolphe—The Sad Young Man is a lithograph created by the renowned French artist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901), in 1894. The work exemplifies Lautrec's mastery of the lithograph on ivory wove paper, a medium he utilized extensively to document Parisian life during the fin-de-siècle. As a crucial figure in Post-Impressionist and Symbolist circles, Toulouse-Lautrec often turned away from traditional academic portraiture, focusing instead on candid depictions of individuals encountered in the city’s margins, theaters, and salons. This particular piece is classified as a fine print, demonstrating the technical skill and observational power of the artist in graphic arts.

The subject, known only as "Adolphe," is presented with a sense of internal contemplation suggested by the subtitle, "The Sad Young Man." Lautrec employs his characteristic simplified forms and expressive contours, conveying psychological depth through minimal means. Unlike his more vibrant, poster-style prints, this piece uses a relatively subdued tonality suitable for an intimate figure study. The focus remains entirely on the sitter’s expression, capturing a moment of quiet melancholy often overlooked in the bustling public domain he usually recorded.

Produced late in his career, this 1894 work reflects Toulouse-Lautrec’s continued interest in documenting individual character and emotion outside of traditional society. The importance of prints like this for art historians is undeniable, offering key insight into the French artistic environment of the late nineteenth century. Adolphe—The Sad Young Man remains a key example of Toulouse-Lautrec's graphic output and is proudly held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.