At the Concert

"At the Concert" by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, French, 1864-1901, is a significant color print executed in 1896. This work masterfully utilizes the specialized medium of color zincograph on grayish-ivory laid chine, a technique closely related to lithography that allowed the artist to capture the rapid energy and unique atmosphere of modern Parisian life. Toulouse-Lautrec was instrumental in elevating the status of the poster and graphic print from commercial utility to fine art, employing the zinc plate to achieve distinct textural qualities and bold applications of color.

The piece exemplifies the artist’s characteristic immersion in the fin de siècle entertainment culture of France. Lautrec frequently depicted the hidden dramas and artificial glamour found within the crowded public spaces of the Belle Époque, particularly cabaret and music hall settings. His compositions often feature stark cropping and dramatic, intimate perspectives, presenting the figures not as idealized portraits but as frank, almost candid, observations of urban inhabitants engrossed in performance or spectacle. This unflinching focus on the realities of modern leisure and the demimonde established the artist as a primary figure in Post-Impressionist graphic arts.

The use of zincography allowed for the precise registration of lines and large, flat areas of color, giving the finished print an immediacy suitable for chronicling the vibrant social changes of the era. As a pivotal example of late 19th-century French printmaking, works such as At the Concert confirm Lautrec's technical mastery and lasting influence on graphic design. This historically important print is part of the extensive permanent collection housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, providing scholars and the public access to key moments in the history of modern French art.