At the Opera: Mme. Caron in "Faust" (A l'opéra: Mme. Caron dans "Faust")

At the Opera: Mme. Caron in "Faust" (A l'opéra: Mme. Caron dans "Faust") is a seminal work by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, executed in 1894. This sophisticated print is a lithograph, utilizing a striking olive green ink applied meticulously to velin paper. The print classification confirms Toulouse-Lautrec’s role as one of the era’s foremost masters of graphic art, proficiently documenting the cultural milieu of the late 19th century.

The work captures a moment from Charles Gounod's popular opera Faust, focusing on the celebrated performer Mme. Caron. Toulouse-Lautrec, a preeminent French artist active between 1876 and 1900, frequently chronicled the vibrant social and nightlife of Paris, focusing especially on its performers, theaters, and cabaret singers. Unlike more idealized depictions of the era, the artist provided an intimate, unidealized portrayal of modern celebrity and the environment of the opera house. This specific lithograph exemplifies his acute ability to capture personality and atmosphere through a simplified, expressive line and a limited, yet effective, color palette.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s aesthetic approach often minimized volume and depth in favor of strong graphic impact, a style influenced heavily by Japanese woodblock prints that were widely collected and studied in France during the 1890s. The artist’s output in prints was highly influential, shaping the development of modern poster design and illustration. At the Opera: Mme. Caron in "Faust" remains a testament to his ability to blend fine art technical precision with commercial necessity. This celebrated example of French graphic art resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it is a key example of the artist’s contribution to the period.