L'Aube

L'Aube is a color lithograph poster created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1896. This specific impression, printed on cream wove paper, showcases the artist’s groundbreaking mastery of the color lithography technique, characterized by the utilization of greasy chalks and multiple stones to achieve saturated, nuanced hues. Toulouse-Lautrec viewed the commercial poster not just as advertising, but as a genuine art form accessible to a broad public, a revolutionary concept during the fin de siècle.

As a leading figure of the Post-Impressionist era, Toulouse-Lautrec embraced the medium of printmaking, moving away from traditional painting techniques to focus on the stark immediacy of graphic communication. The rapid rise of posters in Paris provided him with a perfect platform to document the city’s vibrant, often hedonistic, cultural life. His compositions, characterized by flat planes of color, bold linear outlines influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, and strong graphic impact, were designed to capture immediate attention in the crowded urban landscape of France.

The title, which translates to "The Dawn," suggests a scene linked to the transition from night to morning, a theme often associated with the Parisian entertainers and performers whose lives Toulouse-Lautrec so expertly chronicled. This work elevates the ephemeral nature of commercial art to lasting artistic achievement.

This exceptional example of a late 19th-century print is part of the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum recognizes the significance of works like L'Aube in documenting the social history and graphic revolution of the period. Today, many of Toulouse-Lautrec's celebrated prints, having transitioned into the public domain, continue to influence modern graphic design, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in the history of French art.