La revue blanche

La revue blanche, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895 and printed by Edward Ancort, is a masterwork of color lithography produced during the height of the Parisian poster movement. This print, executed on tan wove paper, showcases the economy of line and bold planes of color for which Toulouse-Lautrec is celebrated. As a printmaker, Toulouse-Lautrec mastered the process of lithography, using it to produce compelling commercial art that bridged the gap between advertising and high fine art.

The subject of the work is the iconic French magazine, La Revue Blanche, an influential literary and arts journal published between 1891 and 1903 that played a central role in fin-de-siècle culture in France. Posters such as this acted as both promotional material and fashionable street art, quickly becoming highly collectible. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently depicted the nightlife and personalities associated with Montmartre and the artistic circles of Paris, translating the energy of modern life into striking graphic representations. His approach elevated the public poster medium, demonstrating its potential for sophisticated artistic expression beyond mere advertisement.

This piece, classified simply as a print, remains a critical document of late 19th-century graphic design and French cultural history. Today, the work known as La revue blanche is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it contributes to the museum’s significant holdings in post-Impressionist prints and drawings. Access to high-quality images of this historic work is often provided through public domain initiatives, ensuring continued study of the artist’s groundbreaking contribution to modern art.