Henry Somm

The print Henry Somm by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1898, captures a likeness of the eponymous French illustrator and designer. This work, classified as a portfolio piece, utilizes the drypoint technique, which involves drawing directly onto a copper plate with a sharp point. This process raises a delicate metal burr along the lines; when inked and pressed, this burr holds ink and results in the characteristic soft, often velvety line quality found in fine prints, distinct from the sharper precision of etching. The resulting composition is an intimate, succinct portrait, characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec’s interest in the personalities surrounding Parisian artistic life.

Toulouse-Lautrec was a defining figure of the late 19th century, obsessively documenting the social complexities and artistic circles of Fin de siècle Paris. Produced during the period 1876 to 1900, this portrait exemplifies his mastery of printmaking, a medium through which he frequently captured candid and often psychological studies of his friends and contemporaries. Unlike his more flamboyant lithographs designed for large-scale public posters, this drypoint offers a private, stark rendering, emphasizing efficient line and form. The highly individualized, observational approach taken by Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the perception of prints as serious fine art, moving the medium beyond mere reproductive illustration toward expressive originality.

As a key example of French graphic art from the turn of the century, this impression of Henry Somm resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work reflects Toulouse-Lautrec’s continuing commitment to portraiture even late in his career. Because this piece is an important academic reference for the artist’s graphic oeuvre, high-quality images and prints of this significant historical work are frequently made available through institutional collections, sometimes entering the public domain for research and study.