For You!…, from "The Old Tales"

For You!…, from "The Old Tales" is a compelling print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. This work exemplifies the artist’s mastery of graphic arts, executed as a lithograph on wove paper. The specific technique involves the application of stencil coloring by another hand, augmenting the black printed lines with striking accents of yellow, green, and turquoise, distinguishing this impression as the only known state.

Toulouse-Lautrec, renowned for his observations of late 19th-century Parisian life, often employed lithography to capture fleeting moments and individual characters with immediacy and precision. While many of his iconic prints depict the dancers and performers of Montmartre, this piece, belonging to a series called "The Old Tales," suggests a narrative approach rooted in specific source material, perhaps traditional literature or folklore.

The subject matter focuses on the dynamic representation of men, rendered with Lautrec’s characteristic economy of line and expressive contours. The use of limited, brightly stenciled color highlights the key elements of the composition and enhances the visual impact of the figures. This careful balance between illustration and fine art printmaking solidifies its place within the artist's œuvre and within the context of French Post-Impressionist prints.

As a significant example of the artist’s graphic output, the work is classified as a print and resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its artistic and historical value contributes to the public domain resources available for the study of Lautrec and the techniques of fin-de-siècle printmaking.