Farewell, from Mélodies de Désiré Dihau

"Farewell, from Mélodies de Désiré Dihau," created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1895, is a significant example of fin-de-siècle French printmaking. Executed as a lithograph on ivory wove paper, this evocative work was produced as part of a published portfolio illustrating songs written by Désiré Dihau, a celebrated bassoonist and composer who was a close friend of the artist. Lautrec’s innovative application of the lithographic technique allowed him to capture the nuanced atmosphere and mood required for musical illustrations, moving the medium beyond simple reproduction toward artistic expression.

Reflecting the artist’s characteristic focus on personal moments and intimate portraiture, the composition captures a quiet scene, perhaps related directly to the melancholic tone implied by the title, Farewell. Lautrec often merged fine art printing with commercial applications, and his dedication to creating original prints helped elevate the status of the medium within the art world of late 19th-century France. The production of musical scores in this era frequently incorporated artistic illustrations, placing this 1895 work firmly within the vibrant cultural landscape of its time. The piece showcases the economy of line and sophisticated understanding of contrast that defined Lautrec's graphic output.

This compelling print by the French master resides within the esteemed permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key reference point for understanding the transition between academic painting and modern commercial art forms. The work demonstrates why Lautrec remains central to the history of modern graphic art, especially for his candid and expressive documentation achieved through the versatility of the lithograph process.