Au pied du Sinaï: Le Baron Moïse

Au pied du Sinaï: Le Baron Moïse by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1898, is a striking late-career example of the artist’s masterful command of portraiture executed through printmaking. Classified as a print, the work utilizes the medium of lithography, a technique Toulouse-Lautrec championed for its potential to reach a wider public and its capacity for expressive, fluid line work, differentiating it from traditional engraving techniques.

The subject matter, Baron Moïse, is rendered with the unflinching psychological insight characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec. The title, Au pied du Sinaï, translating to "At the foot of Sinai," suggests a theatrical or satirical narrative often woven into the artist’s oeuvre, reflecting his deep engagement with the social structures and characters of Belle Époque France. Unlike the famous, colorful scenes of Montmartre nightlife for which he is typically known, this portrait relies on the stark visual power achievable through the lithograph medium.

Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the flat surface of the lithographic stone masterfully, creating textures and shadows through subtle variations in crayon density, confirming his status as a foremost graphic artist in France during the late nineteenth century. The democratic nature of prints made works like this highly accessible, connecting the artist directly to the burgeoning public sphere. This particular impression of Au pied du Sinaï: Le Baron Moïse is preserved in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, serving as a key reference for understanding the full scope of the artist’s diverse printed output.