Footit and Chocolat

Footit and Chocolat is a seminal lithograph on cream wove paper created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1894. This compelling work is a significant example of French printmaking during the late 19th century, a period when Toulouse-Lautrec immersed himself in documenting the vibrant entertainment culture of Paris during the Belle Époque.

The print captures the famous clown duo, George Foottit and Rafael Padilla, known professionally as Chocolat, who were stars of the Nouveau Cirque. Lautrec frequently attended their performances, fascinated by the dynamic between the lanky, English Foottit and his Cuban-born partner, Chocolat, who became one of the first successful Black performing artists in France. The artist uses the medium of lithography to achieve fluid, expressive lines and a bold composition, characterizing the figures through their posture and interaction rather than detailed realism.

The classification of this piece as a print highlights Lautrec’s deliberate move toward commercial, reproducible art forms, blurring the lines between illustration, poster design, and fine art. This artistic choice reflects the growing accessibility of imagery and the popularization of the avant-garde in Paris. The lithograph belongs to a series of works dedicated to circus life, demonstrating Toulouse-Lautrec’s keen observational eye for human movement and the social structures of the performance world. This historic work is preserved today in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As many of Lautrec’s iconic prints from this era have entered the public domain, the legacy of his unique perspective continues to be widely appreciated.