Caudieux at the Petit Casino (from Le Café Concert) is a definitive work by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1893. This compelling black-and-white print, classified as a crayon and spatter lithograph, utilized a scraper technique on wove paper, representing the only state known for this composition.
Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the vibrant, often raw world of fin-de-siècle Parisian entertainment, finding endless subject matter among the performers and patrons of the city’s dance halls and concert venues. This piece focuses specifically on the popular figure of Caudieux, depicted during a routine at the Petit Casino venue. Caudieux, known for his imposing physical presence and theatrical performances, is rendered with the dramatic, often harsh, lighting typical of the gaslit music halls. The sharp contrasts achieved through the lithographic process emphasize the character and energy of the men who dominated the popular stage at the time.
The artist’s innovative approach to prints is evident in the dynamic quality of the lines and texture. The combination of black crayon for definition and spatter, a technique often used to create textured shadows or atmospheric backgrounds, lends a sense of immediacy and gritty realism to the portrayal. Toulouse-Lautrec mastered the lithograph medium, treating it less as a reproductive process and more as a primary expressive tool for rapidly capturing the intense atmosphere of the café-concerts.
This seminal work, illustrating the complexities of the Belle Époque stage, is held within the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The profound influence and widespread accessibility of Toulouse-Lautrec’s prints ensure that this key image, part of the Le Café Concert portfolio, remains widely studied and appreciated today. As a significant historical print, Caudieux at the Petit Casino (from Le Café Concert) often enters the public domain, making high-resolution reproductions available to researchers and enthusiasts worldwide.
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