Baron Moïse Begging, from Au Pied du Sinaï

The print Baron Moïse Begging, from Au Pied du Sinaï was created in 1897 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901. This color lithograph on ivory wove paper showcases the artist's sophisticated technique in printmaking, a medium central to the artistic culture of late 19th-century France. The work is one of ten plates Lautrec contributed to the illustrated book Au Pied du Sinaï, a collection of stories centered on Jewish life by Georges Clemenceau, who would later become Prime Minister of France. The book was officially published the following year.

Clemenceau’s stories provided Lautrec with a distinct narrative opportunity, moving beyond his typical subjects of Parisian nightlife and theater. The piece offers a sharp, character-driven portrait of a figure identified as Baron Moïse, a man seeking alms. Lautrec utilizes his signature graphic style, relying on strong, defined outlines and subtle color modulation to convey the Baron's posture, reflecting his worn state and circumstance.

The artist's technical mastery of the lithographic process is evident in the delicate interplay between the ivory paper and the sparse application of color, which highlights the figure’s expressive face and hands. This approach exemplifies Lautrec’s unique ability to capture social and individual psychologies with an exceptional economy of line. Classified as a print, the technical precision and enduring cultural relevance of the work solidify its importance within the artist's mature period. This specific impression is held within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.