At the Hanneton (Au Hanneton)

At the Hanneton (Au Hanneton) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is an exemplary work of fin-de-siècle graphic art, executed as a lithograph in 1898. This print demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s profound technical engagement with the medium, treating it not as a reproductive tool but as an expressive artistic form central to his oeuvre. The artist often favored lithography because its directness and speed allowed him to capture the immediate energy and transient atmosphere of Parisian nightlife and culture.

A master of the French Post-Impressionist period, Toulouse-Lautrec was instrumental in elevating poster and print design to the level of high art. The process involved drawing directly onto limestone or zinc plates, allowing the artist flexibility in line quality and texture that suited his characteristic style of sharp observation and compressed composition. Works such as this piece, created in 1898, exemplify his innovative use of color and contour, often simplifying forms and utilizing stark negative space, heavily influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints that were popular in French artistic circles.

The subject matter in Lautrec's prints often revolved around the Moulin Rouge, the theaters, and the private moments of Montmartre society, offering a complex, unromanticized view of the city’s inhabitants. While the specific scene depicted in At the Hanneton remains subtle, the work fits within the context of his graphic output focused on character study and interior moods. The quick dissemination enabled by prints allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to provide a wide, instantaneous visual commentary on the social strata of the time.

This important lithograph represents the culmination of the artist's dedication to the graphic medium late in his career. It serves as a vital record of both technical innovation and the cultural climate of French art history. Today, this distinguished print is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), acknowledging its significance as a landmark work in the history of modern art prints.