Débauché

Débauché by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1896, is a crucial example of the artist’s mastery of graphic art. Classified as a print, the work is a lithograph meticulously executed in three colors and printed on vellum, a choice of material that lends a distinctive, delicate quality to the final image. The technique itself allows for the rapid distribution of images, perfectly suiting Toulouse-Lautrec’s journalistic style of observation of the Parisian scene.

This piece sharply defines the artist’s signature subject matter: the complex interactions between men and women in the intimate, often transactional environments of fin-de-siècle Paris. The title, which refers to debauchery or dissolution, underscores the theme of dissipation, positioning the viewer as a discreet observer of private life within the dance halls or hidden alcoves of Montmartre. Toulouse-Lautrec employed bold, simplified forms, often drawing influence from Japanese ukiyo-e prints, to capture the psychological nuance of his subjects, even in this limited graphic medium.

The composition relies on strong visual contrast achieved through the limited color palette, emphasizing the figures’ dramatic poses and the suggestive setting. As a foundational document of late 19th-century French printmaking, the work highlights the shift toward modern graphic illustration. This impression is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The accessibility and historical significance of Lautrec’s prints ensure that digital copies are widely available for study through institutional and public domain resources globally.