Busk Cemetery, from Au Pied du Sinaï is an intimate lithograph created in 1897 by the celebrated French Post-Impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901). Executed on cream wove paper, this work showcases the artist’s mastery of the lithographic process, allowing for subtle tonal variations and textural effects characteristic of high-quality prints from the period. Unlike the famous, kinetic posters associated with Parisian nightlife, this piece demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s ability to apply his graphic sensibility to literary illustration.
The piece belongs to a specific illustrated album titled Au Pied du Sinaï (At the Foot of Sinai), highlighting the artist’s collaborations on projects with cultural and geographic themes outside his typical French setting. Although known primarily for documenting the decadent world of Montmartre, Toulouse-Lautrec brings his characteristic sharp observations and evocative line work to the subject of the cemetery, transforming a potentially somber setting into a scene rich with narrative potential.
As a significant example of French graphic arts from the end of the 19th century, this print reveals Toulouse-Lautrec’s sophisticated understanding of the medium’s commercial and artistic possibilities. The composition employs stark light and shadow and simplified forms, emphasizing atmosphere over detail. The work ultimately contributes to the understanding of modern printmaking and the graphic arts in France. This original impression is held in the renowned collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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