At the Concert (Au concert)

At the Concert (Au concert) is a celebrated print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, rendered as a striking color lithograph. This particular impression is designated as a restrike, having been printed from the original stones or plates subsequent to the initial edition, ensuring the widespread continuation of the artist's iconic imagery. As a defining figure in Post-Impressionism and a master of the printmaking medium, Toulouse-Lautrec captured the volatile, intoxicating energy of late 19th-century Parisian entertainment. His intensive body of work focused on documenting the specific environments of cafe-concerts, theaters, and dance halls in Montmartre, where high society and the demimonde often intertwined.

The underlying artistic movements and cultural shifts that informed Toulouse-Lautrec's vision emerged from the broader French artistic milieu spanning the years 1851 to 1875 and continuing through the fin de siècle. Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the immediacy and commercial appeal of lithography to develop a graphic style that seamlessly blended fine art illustration with the boldness of poster design. The intimate setting suggested by Au concert highlights the artist’s characteristic use of simplified forms, powerful outlines, and carefully modulated color fields, capturing candid moments of audience interaction and performance. His command of the color printing process distinguishes his prints among contemporary visual arts documentation.

The classification of the work as a Print underscores Toulouse-Lautrec's revolutionary role in elevating lithography from a mere reproductive technique to a primary artistic form. His innovative approach to visual storytelling ensured that his compositions reached a vast, appreciative audience, cementing his place in art history. The enduring quality and widespread influence of the artist’s work mean that many of his key prints are frequently studied and, where copyright allows, are made accessible in the public domain. This exceptional impression of At the Concert (Au concert) is preserved within the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., offering insight into the unique observational brilliance of the French master.