Good Morning Mr. Robin

"Good Morning Mr. Robin" is a compelling print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1898. This late-career work exemplifies Lautrec's mastery of graphic media. Classified as a drypoint in black, the image was pulled from a zinc plate onto greenish-ivory (verdâtre) laid paper. The drypoint technique, which involves drawing directly onto the plate with a sharp needle, allowed Lautrec to achieve the characteristically velvety, rich burr and subsequent lines seen in this impression. This highly sophisticated method of fine printing was integral to the Parisian art scene of the late 19th century.

Created in France, the piece reflects the focus on intimacy and observation common among post-Impressionist artists. Though the artist is often associated with the vibrant bohemian nightlife and colorful posters of Montmartre, Lautrec (1864-1901) also produced subtle, smaller-scale prints exploring everyday life. The informal subject implied by the title, Good Morning Mr. Robin, suggests a fleeting, private moment, rendered with the artist's characteristic economy of line and strong compositional structure. The widespread accessibility of prints such as this provided a means of affordable artistic dissemination to a broader public.

This delicate example of late 19th-century French printmaking is part of the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work, along with numerous other drypoint and lithographic examples, confirms Lautrec’s enduring legacy as one of the period’s most significant graphic artists.