At the Concert

At the Concert by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a masterful example of the artist’s influential graphic work produced late in his career. Dating to 1896, this piece is a sophisticated color zincograph printed on cream wove paper, showcasing Lautrec's technical virtuosity in the printmaking medium. The work captures the essence of the bohemian nightlife that defined fin-de-siècle Paris. Lautrec was deeply embedded in this world, and he frequently documented the fleeting interactions, performers, and audiences of cabarets, theaters, and concert halls throughout France. This artwork exemplifies his signature style: sharp outlines, flattened perspective, and a psychological depth achieved through minimal, suggestive detail.

As a dedicated printmaker, 1864-1901 utilized graphic processes like zincography (a variant of lithography) to produce accessible and widely distributed images. This medium allowed the artist to achieve vibrant coloration and rapid, immediate compositions that captured the energy of the urban scene. The development and popularity of these graphic prints in the 1890s cemented Lautrec’s place as a pioneer of modern visual communication. The immediacy of the scene depicted in At the Concert showcases why his graphic output remains one of the most celebrated and studied in the history of art. This important historic piece is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, preserving its legacy as a key example of French Post-Impressionist graphic arts, much of which is now available in the public domain for study and appreciation.