"Footit and Chocolat" is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1894. This highly celebrated work is executed as a lithograph on ivory wove paper, demonstrating Lautrec's technical mastery of the demanding printing process. Produced during the height of the Belle Époque in Paris, the work captures the dynamic energy of the burgeoning entertainment scene that captivated the French public.
Lautrec frequently documented the performers and marginalized figures of Montmartre. The central subjects are George Foottit, a famous English equestrian clown, and Rafael Padilla, known professionally as Chocolat, a Cuban-born Black performer who rose to fame as Foottit's comedic foil. Their highly popular, often complex, duo act symbolized the intersection of comedy, social commentary, and racial dynamics central to the entertainment industry in 1890s Paris, France. Toulouse-Lautrec's sharp observational skill allowed him to capture the specific energy and dramatic tension inherent in their stage presence, moving beyond simple caricature.
As one of his definitive graphic works, this lithograph showcases why Toulouse-Lautrec remains recognized as one of the great post-Impressionist masters of printmaking. The rarity of original, high-quality prints like this one underscores its value as a historical document of the era. This iconic image, classified simply as a print, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, making the image widely accessible for study and reference, often entering the public domain.
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