Aristide Bruant, from Le Café-Concert

Aristide Bruant, from Le Café-Concert is a pivotal 1893 lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a defining figure of French graphic arts during the fin de siècle. This high-quality print, rendered on cream wove paper, showcases the artist’s mastery of the lithographic process, blending fine art printmaking with the emerging aesthetics of commercial poster design. The work was printed in France by Edward Ancourt & Cie and published as part of the influential portfolio L'Estampe originale (The Original Print), which sought to elevate contemporary printmaking to the status of painting.

The subject is the famous cabaret singer and poet Aristide Bruant, whom Toulouse-Lautrec frequently depicted. Known for his distinctive black cape, wide-brimmed hat, and the dramatic red scarf, Bruant was an iconic figure synonymous with the bohemian nightlife of Montmartre. Toulouse-Lautrec employed dynamic, simplified forms and bold outlines, creating a psychologically compelling and instantly recognizable portrait that revolutionized visual communication in France. The artist captured the essential mood of the Parisian café-concerts, transitioning the world of entertainment and street advertising into serious artistic output.

Works like this lithograph cemented Toulouse-Lautrec’s reputation as the visual chronicler of modern Parisian life. As a key example of late 19th-century French art, the piece is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Though many early lithographs were originally ephemeral, the technical quality and enduring artistic value of this piece ensure its status as a foundational artwork, frequently studied among important public domain prints of the period.