Ida Heath at the Bar (Ida Heath au bar)

Ida Heath at the Bar (Ida Heath au bar), created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1894, captures the casual yet charged atmosphere of Parisian nightlife that the artist famously documented. This particular impression is a distinctive lithograph executed entirely in olive green ink on velin paper. Toulouse-Lautrec was a dedicated master of the print medium, utilizing the graphic potential of lithography to achieve spontaneous, sketch-like effects ideal for conveying the energy of his subjects and the rapid movement of modern life.

Belonging to the vibrant French artistic period spanning 1876 to 1900, this piece exemplifies the late 19th-century shift toward depicting urban leisure and the individuals who frequented the bars and music halls. Toulouse-Lautrec often observed and documented known figures of the era in these public settings. The subject, Ida Heath, is shown casually leaning forward at the bar, perhaps deep in thought or waiting for service, her posture reflecting the unique blend of anonymity and close proximity inherent in these public spaces.

The deliberate simplicity of the work, restricted to a single, rich olive green hue, emphasizes line, contour, and psychological depth over traditional color modeling. This specific aesthetic choice highlights the structure of the composition and distinguishes the print from the artist’s more colorful poster designs. As a result, the work functions both as a valuable record of Fin de Siècle social history and as a significant technical innovation in the history of prints. Today, this key piece of graphic art is housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.