At the Concert

"At the Concert" is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1896. This graphic work was executed using the demanding technique of zincograph on cream wove paper. Lautrec, a central figure in Post-Impressionism, frequently utilized printmaking methods to capture the dynamic, often fleeting moments of Parisian nightlife, rejecting the formal constraints of traditional painting.

The work exemplifies the artist’s profound connection to the entertainment culture of fin-de-siècle Paris, focusing on the cabarets and concert halls of Montmartre. This zincograph, a specialized planographic printing method related to lithography, allowed Lautrec to achieve a unique, sketch-like immediacy, lending energy and authenticity to the scene. Lautrec's signature approach is evident through the use of simplified, yet expressive, contours and a sharp focus on candid psychological observation. His choice of medium highlights the increasing artistic importance of prints and commercial art in late 19th-century France.

Rather than offering idealized depictions, Lautrec emphasized the complex reality of urban leisure, often portraying performers and audience members with startling honesty. This method cemented his reputation as the definitive chronicler of the period. This invaluable example of Lautrec’s innovative graphic output is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as a key document for studying the visual culture of France at the close of the century.