Charles Maurin

Charles Maurin by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, executed in 1898, is a superb example of the artist's skills in printmaking during the height of his career. Created using the drypoint technique, the image is formed by scratching directly into a copper plate with a sharp point, raising a characteristic burr that holds ink. This specific process yields velvety, rich lines, which Toulouse-Lautrec skillfully exploited to define the sitter's expression and the texture of his clothing. The immediate, spontaneous nature inherent in drypoint printing perfectly suited Toulouse-Lautrec's rapid observational approach and his dedication to capturing character over mere resemblance.

The subject of the print is Charles Maurin (1856-1914), a fellow painter and engraver who was a close professional associate of the artist. Both men were deeply immersed in the bohemian social and artistic milieu of late nineteenth-century France. While Lautrec is internationally recognized for his iconic depictions of cabaret dancers and the socialites of Montmartre, he also produced highly insightful, unvarnished portraits of his contemporaries and friends. In this work, the economy of line focuses the viewer entirely on Maurin’s contemplative gaze and the slightly slouched posture, suggesting a candid moment of introspection.

As a fine example of fin-de-siècle prints, this impression of Charles Maurin is housed within the esteemed collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The piece serves as valuable documentation of the close-knit artistic networks that defined French culture during that transformative period. High-resolution images of important works like this, which are now often considered part of the public domain, continue to make Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential graphic achievements accessible for study worldwide.