In the Hanneton

In the Hanneton, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898, is a significant example of the lithographic process that the artist popularized during the Fin de siècle era in France. This print exemplifies the directness and expressive line work characteristic of Lautrec's mature style. The classification as a print places this work firmly within the tradition of graphic arts, a field Toulouse-Lautrec revolutionized through his commercial and artistic output.

Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the ephemeral night life and intimate private moments of Parisian society, often capturing figures in candid, unposed scenarios. Although the specific subject matter of In the Hanneton is not immediately explicit, it carries the hallmark immediacy and psychological depth typical of the artist's observations of Montmartre. Unlike traditional academic painting, this piece utilizes the unique grain and texture afforded by the lithograph stone, allowing the artist to achieve stark contrasts between light and shadow and emphasizing the rapid sketch-like quality he favored.

By the late 1890s, the medium of black-and-white and color lithography was a primary means for graphic communication in France, used for posters, illustrations, and fine art prints. This period saw Toulouse-Lautrec at the height of his career, influencing subsequent generations of modernists with his graphic sensibility and flattened perspective. The work resides within the extensive holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, representing the museum's commitment to collecting key prints by influential 19th-century European masters. As this historic work ages, high-quality images of the prints are often made available through public domain initiatives for educational study and reference.