Footit et chocolat

Footit et chocolat by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a significant lithograph on paper created during the late period of the artist's brief but influential career, dating between 1884 and 1901. This print captures the lively, often gritty atmosphere of Parisian entertainment, a key theme in the artist's extensive body of work. A master of the printing process, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithographic technique to achieve immediate, graphic results suitable for capturing dynamic movement and stark characterization, distinguishing him among modern French artists.

The work depicts the celebrated performance duo, Footit (the traditional English clown) and Chocolat (Rafael Padilla, the pioneering Black Cuban clown). Their groundbreaking partnership was a fixture of the Nouveau Cirque and Montmartre cabaret scene in France, offering Toulouse-Lautrec rich material for his astute observations of social dynamics and the theatrical world. Toulouse-Lautrec was drawn to documenting figures operating within the public domain of the stage, often focusing on the backstage reality and the intense expressions of performers and patrons rather than idealized scenes. He was instrumental in elevating printmaking to a serious art form, using the complex lithographic process not just for reproduction, but as a primary method of artistic expression that perfectly captured the raw, immediate energy inherent in the contemporary urban landscape.

This piece exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s unique approach to documenting the social landscape of the Belle Époque. Classified as a print, the expressive lines and bold composition typical of his graphic style elevate a simple performance image into a lasting commentary on turn-of-the-century French society. The inclusion of Footit et chocolat in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago solidifies its status as a vital component of the history of modern prints and French Post-Impressionist graphic art.