III. Pessima

“III. Pessima,” created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898, is a lithograph that exemplifies the artist’s mastery of graphic media in the late nineteenth century. Classified as a fine art print, this work was produced using a precise technique: a beige tint stone provided a subtle background tonality, lending the impression a nuanced depth that elevates the simple portrait study. The paper chosen, laid paper, underscores the tactile quality of the piece, characteristic of the French printmaking tradition that Toulouse-Lautrec helped redefine.

This late-career work is primarily a study of faces, showcasing the artist’s distinctive approach to individualized character representation. Throughout the 1890s, Toulouse-Lautrec moved away from idealized forms, focusing instead on capturing the specific, often raw, physiognomy of his subjects. Here, the economy of line and the minimal color palette isolate the emotional intensity of the individual, reflecting the psychological penetration that marks the best of the artist’s works from this period. The resulting depiction avoids anecdote, concentrating solely on the subject’s expression and humanity.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s prolific output in prints ensured his accessibility and influence in fin-de-siècle Paris. The technique used in III. Pessima highlights how effectively he utilized lithography to achieve both immediacy and artistic complexity. Today, this significant piece is housed within the prestigious collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a historical work of art from 1898, reproductions of the impression are widely available through various public domain art reference collections.