At the Concert

"At the Concert" is a significant print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, created in 1896. This remarkable work, rooted in the graphic traditions of France, showcases the artist’s innovative and experimental approach to lithography. The medium employed is highly specific: a zinc lithographic plate which had its corners removed and edges beveled, deliberately laid down on a supporting mauve board and secured to a mat. This unconventional treatment elevates the plate from a mere matrix for printing into a finished art object itself, underscoring Toulouse-Lautrec's focus on material texture and immediate presentation.

As one of the preeminent chroniclers of Parisian nightlife and entertainment during the fin-de-siècle, Toulouse-Lautrec masterfully captured the intimate, often fleeting, moments observed within performance halls and cafes. His prolific production of prints, particularly lithographs, played a crucial role in democratizing art during this period, ensuring his empathetic yet satirical observations of modern life were widely accessible. The subject matter—a concert setting—is typical of the genre the artist popularized, using quick, expressive lines and cropped compositions to convey atmosphere and immediacy.

The bold graphic quality of the piece exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s signature style, which drew heavily on the formal qualities of Japanese woodblock prints. The artist's focus on commercial and entertainment subjects cemented his status as a key figure in late 19th-century European art. While the original physical plate remains unique, the broader legacy of his works ensures that many of his key 1890s prints are today categorized within the public domain. This important example of French graphic arts, At the Concert, resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.