In Their Forties

"In Their Forties," created in 1893 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a significant example of fin-de-siècle graphic art. This piece is classified as a print, specifically a lithograph executed on cream wove paper. Lautrec was a central figure in Parisian art culture during the 1890s, revolutionizing how the medium of print was perceived and utilized in late 19th-century France. His mastery of lithography allowed him to quickly document the rapidly changing social landscape of Montmartre and beyond.

Lautrec's prolific output of prints often captured intimate, unvarnished moments of Parisian society, moving beyond the idealized images of traditional portraiture. The work reflects his keen observational eye for human psychology, focusing here on subjects whose maturity suggests a reflection on mid-life experience. Created during the height of the Belle Époque, this piece captures the spirit of the era through candid character study. Lautrec’s unique compositional style, heavily influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints and the immediacy of the poster format, employs simplified forms and strong outlines characteristic of modern French graphic arts, lending an immediate, journalistic quality to his images.

This exceptional print is currently held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The detailed lithographic work demonstrates the artist's technical prowess in conveying complex emotion with minimal means, solidifying his legacy as a master of modern prints. As the work is a widely recognized piece from a major artist and entered the public domain decades ago, it continues to be studied and reproduced globally, serving as a vital record of Belle Époque life.