Invitation for Mr. and Mrs. Alexandre Natanson is a refined example of fin-de-siècle printmaking, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) in 1895. The work is executed as a color lithograph on cream wove paper, a technique that Lautrec mastered and popularized, enabling a rapid dissemination of his distinctive graphic style across France.
The subject matter, though seemingly simple, highlights the intimate connections within Paris's artistic and publishing circles. The recipients, Mr. and Mrs. Alexandre Natanson, were influential figures; Alexandre was one of the founders of the avant-garde journal La Revue Blanche, a periodical central to modern art discourse. Lautrec, a frequent contributor and associate of the Natanson family, produced this piece not as a commercial poster but as a personalized social document, elevating the function of the invitation itself.
This print exemplifies the artist's mature aesthetic, characterized by swift, economical lines and a restricted palette that captures the essence of his subjects without excessive detail. The classification of the work as a print emphasizes Toulouse-Lautrec’s significant contribution to the revitalization of lithography, transforming it from a mere reproductive method into a powerful artistic medium in the late 19th century. This historic work from 1895, integral to understanding French art and society during the period, is currently held in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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