At the Folies-Bergère: The Modesty of Monsieur Prudhomme

At the Folies-Bergère: The Modesty of Monsieur Prudhomme by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, provides a vivid glimpse into the often-scandalous world of Parisian entertainment at the close of the 19th century. Created in 1893, this striking print is a lithograph on cream wove paper, a medium Toulouse-Lautrec mastered and utilized extensively to capture the ephemeral energy of Montmartre’s cabarets and dance halls. As a primary chronicler of the fin-de-siècle culture in France, the artist expertly employed the rapid production capabilities of lithography to produce highly expressive images for both posters and limited-edition portfolios.

The setting, the famed Folies-Bergère, serves as a backdrop for the artist’s characteristic social commentary. The subject matter likely contrasts the theatrical nudity or boisterous atmosphere of the venue with the conventional propriety implied by the figure of "Monsieur Prudhomme." Toulouse-Lautrec’s keen observation allows him to distill complex social interactions into sharp, graphic forms, using bold outlines and modulated tones inherent to the printmaking technique.

This piece exemplifies how Lautrec used his visual language to document the intersection of different social strata in public spaces. The work remains an essential example of the period’s innovations in graphic art, providing a powerful look at modern life in Paris. Today, original prints of this caliber are meticulously preserved, although reproductions are often available through public domain archives. This significant impression of At the Folies-Bergère: The Modesty of Monsieur Prudhomme is a key component of the Art Institute of Chicago’s distinguished collection of 19th-century French prints.