At the Moulin Rouge: The Franco-Russian Alliance

At the Moulin Rouge: The Franco-Russian Alliance, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893, is a sophisticated example of fin-de-siècle printmaking that captures the atmosphere of the iconic Parisian cabaret. The work utilizes a complex technique: a lithograph created using crayon, brush, and spatter methods, printed exclusively in black ink on delicate imitation Japan paper. This piece, which exists only in a single state, illustrates the artist’s commitment to documenting the vibrant, often chaotic, nightlife of Montmartre.

The specific title refers to the grand national celebrations that swept Paris following the solidification of the diplomatic and military pact between the French Republic and Imperial Russia, formally established between 1891 and 1894. Toulouse-Lautrec often used current events as a backdrop for his studies of modern life. Rather than depict the official government ceremonies, however, the artist focuses on the public reaction, documenting the interactions between men and women celebrating in the commercial entertainment sphere. His characteristic compositional style, influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints and early photography, utilizes sharp angles and cropped figures, positioning the viewer intimately within the bustling scene.

Toulouse-Lautrec mastered the use of lithography, appreciating how the medium allowed him to disseminate his images widely and experiment with texture, evident here in the granular quality achieved by the spatter technique. His ability to render complex figures and deep shadows using only black ink elevates the piece beyond mere documentation into a powerful artistic statement about Parisian society and its modern inhabitants. This important print remains a key example of the artist’s innovative graphic work and resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.