Carnot is Sick!

"Carnot is Sick!" is a significant lithograph created in 1893 by the seminal Post-Impressionist master Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901). This work demonstrates the artist's acute ability to use the graphic medium for sharp social and political commentary. Executed on cream wove paper, the lithograph captures the distinctive, illustrative style that made Lautrec the premier chronicler of Paris during the fin de siècle.

Produced in 1893, the piece emerged during a turbulent but highly creative era in France, coinciding with Lautrec’s prolific output of posters and prints designed for mass circulation. The title strongly suggests a caricature or satire aimed at a figure named Carnot, most likely referring to Sadi Carnot, who served as the President of the Republic from 1887 until his assassination the following year. Lautrec frequently utilized his skills as a printmaker to lampoon contemporary figures and expose the hypocrisy found within Parisian high society and the political establishment.

The directness and economy of line evident in this particular impression exemplify the impact graphic art could achieve in the public sphere of the 1890s. This classification of prints allowed the artist’s work to reach far beyond the confines of traditional painting. Carnot is Sick! is preserved in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as an important historical artifact illustrating both the technical mastery of Lautrec and the cultural climate of the Third Republic. While the original is protected, many of the artist's works are now accessible, often through public domain sources, underscoring the lasting influence of this French pioneer.