Debauchery (second plate)

"Debauchery (second plate)" is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1896. This work is a sophisticated color lithograph executed on cream wove paper, showcasing Lautrec's characteristic mastery of the graphic medium. Lithography allowed the artist to translate his quick, expressive sketches into prints, capturing the ephemeral, sometimes unsettling, atmosphere of Parisian nightlife with rich, nuanced tones and immediate texture. As a central figure of the fin de siècle period in France, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the burgeoning field of printmaking to disseminate his observations widely, contributing profoundly to the development of modern graphic arts.

Throughout the 1890s, Lautrec dedicated his oeuvre to documenting the unconventional and often marginalized social spheres of Montmartre. Rather than adhering to academic traditions, this piece reflects the raw, unvarnished scenes of intimacy and transgression suggested by the title. The artist often focused his lens on dancers, performers, and the inhabitants of brothels, chronicling the hidden excesses and social complexities of the era. The strong outlines, simplified forms, and dramatic use of color in the work emphasize the voyeuristic intensity of his observations.

The technique employed in this lithograph is crucial to the work’s impact, utilizing the grain of the stone to create subtle shifts in light and shadow, resulting in a composition both visually striking and historically authentic. This impressive example of late 19th-century French graphic arts is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.