Clemenceau in Busk, from Au Pied du Sinaï

Clemenceau in Busk, from Au Pied du Sinaï is an iconic lithograph created in 1897 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901. This sophisticated print, rendered on ivory wove paper, exemplifies Lautrec's innovative mastery of the lithographic process, a medium he favored for its ability to capture immediate character and atmospheric detail. As a pivotal artist operating within post-Impressionist France, Lautrec devoted his career to documenting the social fabric of fin-de-siècle Paris, often translating his acute observations of public figures into incisive, graphic portraits. The work is classified as a print and is a valued holding within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The subject is Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929), the powerful French journalist and statesman who would later become Prime Minister. The depiction of Clemenceau, likely in an informal or slightly satirical context, speaks to Toulouse-Lautrec's willingness to peel back the public facade of his subjects. This specific illustration was produced for the 1897 publication Au Pied du Sinaï, an illustrated book featuring texts by Clemenceau himself concerning travel and Jewish life outside of France. Lautrec contributed ten illustrations to the volume, applying his distinctive, energetic line to complement the written narrative. This piece not only offers a glimpse into the intellectual collaborations of the era but also stands as a significant example of the vibrant printmaking tradition in France at the close of the 19th century.