Cassive

"Cassive," created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896, is a powerful example of the artist’s mastery of the graphic arts. This work is classified as a print, specifically a lithograph executed entirely in black ink on fine, hand-made paper. Lautrec, a key figure in late 19th-century French art, often utilized the directness of lithography to capture fleeting expressions and atmospheric effects with stark efficiency. The deliberate choice of black ink on quality paper emphasizes the artist's focus on line quality, contour, and the interplay of light and shadow, characteristic of his more intimate portrait and study prints from this period.

Created during the culturally vibrant era of 1876 to 1900, Cassive reflects Toulouse-Lautrec’s deep engagement with the human figure. While he gained widespread renown for his colorful posters depicting the dynamism of Parisian nightlife, the artist produced an extensive body of black-and-white prints and drawings that demonstrate a profound observational skill and an unflinching eye for character. As a French artist working during the Fin de Siècle, Toulouse-Lautrec revolutionized the status of prints, elevating the medium from simple commercial reproduction to a sophisticated art form. The immediacy of the lithographic process ideally suited his rapid, illustrative style, allowing him to focus attention purely on form and emotional depth rather than elaborate settings.

This exceptional print is a crucial representation of the Fin de Siècle printmaking movement and is preserved in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The piece illustrates the powerful visual impact achieved through technical restraint, solidifying Lautrec’s reputation as a master draftsman and a defining chronicler of his time. Today, high-resolution images of such historic artworks are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring that the legacy of Toulouse-Lautrec’s significant contributions to modern art remains widely accessible for study and appreciation.