La Passagère du 54

La Passagère du 54, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896, is a key example of the artist’s masterful command of the lithograph technique. As a leading figure in late 19th-century French art, Toulouse-Lautrec specialized in capturing the transient, often gritty, personalities and public life of fin-de-siècle Paris. This particular work demonstrates his distinctive style, characterized by flattened forms, expressive linework, and an observational approach heavily influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints.

Toulouse-Lautrec often turned his gaze toward specific individuals, transforming momentary glimpses of his subjects into potent cultural records. The central figure of La Passagère du 54 is rendered with a characteristic immediacy, reflecting the artist’s unwavering commitment to visual truth over classical idealization. Produced during a prolific period for both commercial and fine art prints in France, this piece cemented the artist's reputation as the foremost visual chronicler of modern urban leisure and celebrity.

The print is housed in the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it contributes to the institution’s holdings of important 19th-century European works. The medium classification underscores Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential role in elevating lithography from a purely commercial medium to a recognized form of high art. Works like this continue to influence modern illustration, with many high-resolution images of these historic French prints entering the public domain, ensuring widespread access to the art of this pivotal era.