Folies Bergère: the Modesty of Monsieur Prudhomme (Folies Bergère: Les pudeurs de Monsieur Prudhomme)

Folies Bergère: the Modesty of Monsieur Prudhomme (Folies Bergère: Les pudeurs de Monsieur Prudhomme) is a major lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. As a master of the printed form, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithograph technique to capture the vibrant, often scandalous, world of Parisian entertainment, a subject central to his artistic output during the late 19th century. This particular print focuses on the famous Folies Bergère cabaret, a definitive location in the culture of Montmartre.

The subject of the work subtly satirizes the contrast between stiff bourgeois morality and the open decadence of the fin-de-siècle nightlife. The title refers to a respectable figure, Monsieur Prudhomme, encountering the unveiled reality of the cabaret. Toulouse-Lautrec’s unique skill lies in using stark lines and economical composition, characteristic of his graphic style, to convey immediate, fleeting moments of social interaction and performance. The French artist was unparalleled in his ability to translate the energy of the dance hall and theater into the relatively new medium of the commercial print.

This lithograph exemplifies the influential role graphic arts played in disseminating modern aesthetics during the 1890s. Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the status of posters and promotional prints to that of fine art. The work showcases his distinctive compositional approach, which often incorporated techniques inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e prints, evident in the compressed perspective and bold, dark outlines that define the figures.

Classified as a definitive French print from this era, Folies Bergère: the Modesty of Monsieur Prudhomme highlights the artist’s sharp sociological observations. The piece is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, underscoring its historical importance within the development of modern graphic arts and the public domain of the visual arts.