Invitation to a Glass of Milk

Invitation to a Glass of Milk by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a delicate and focused print created in 1897. Executed as a lithograph on cream wove paper, this work showcases the artist's characteristic mastery of line and form developed during the height of his career. Lautrec was a prolific practitioner of printmaking, finding the medium ideal for capturing the immediate, often fleeting, moments of late 19th-century Parisian life.

The subject matter aligns closely with Lautrec's established artistic interests, focusing on intimate social exchanges and portraits rather than grand public spectacles. Created in France, the piece reflects the era's fascination with domesticity and quiet observation, a counterpoint to the raucous nightlife scenes for which the artist is often known. As a key figure in Post-Impressionism, Toulouse-Lautrec often used his prints to explore complex psychology and interior scenes, giving viewers a powerful glimpse into private moments rarely depicted in traditional fine art. His technique, prioritizing stark composition and expressive contour, gave his graphic images a directness and modernity recognized throughout Europe.

The choice of lithography allowed Lautrec to achieve a unique softness and subtle tonal gradation on the cream wove paper, distinguishing his graphic works from those of his contemporaries. This particular impression of Invitation to a Glass of Milk is classified as a print and is held in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Because this artwork is now in the public domain, high-quality images and related prints are widely accessible for study and exhibition globally, affirming the lasting cultural significance of Lautrec’s innovative graphic output from this pivotal period.