Blanche and Noire

Blanche and Noire, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1896, is a notable example of late nineteenth-century French graphic arts. This powerful print is a lithograph, a planographic technique relying on the immiscibility of grease and water, executed expertly on cream laid Japanese paper. The use of lithography allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to translate his characteristic quick, fluid sketching style into a reproducible format, thereby influencing both the fine art world and the nascent commercial poster industry.

Produced during a highly fertile period for the artist, this piece reflects the dynamic cultural environment of fin-de-siècle Paris, France. Toulouse-Lautrec often focused his prints on marginalized figures, the burgeoning cabaret culture, and the private lives of women, capturing the era’s social currents with distinctive draftsmanship. The artwork's title suggests a study in contrast, a favored method by which the artist explored the complex duality of Parisian society, often presenting subjects with unflinching realism.

The choice of laid Japanese paper, valued for its absorbency and ability to hold subtle detail and texture, demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec's sophistication in selecting materials to enhance his expressive line work. As a recognized master of the reproductive print, Toulouse-Lautrec left behind a substantial legacy of graphic works chronicling modern life. This specific impression resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Given the historical significance and the artist's prominence, high-quality images of many of Toulouse-Lautrec's most famous prints are frequently made available to the public through public domain initiatives.