Last Ballad (Ultime ballade)

Last Ballad (Ultime ballade) is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. This foundational graphic work was executed as a lithograph, meticulously enhanced by hand-coloring through stencil additions. This composite technique allowed for the rich, controlled application of color that elevates the piece beyond standard commercial prints, showcasing the artist’s commitment to innovative media experimentation during his time in the French capital.

Toulouse-Lautrec, a master observer of the era, dedicated his career to capturing the vibrant, often shadowed, world of fin-de-siècle Paris. The work dates specifically to 1893, a pinnacle year for the artist’s output documenting the cabaret and café-concert scene. As a crucial figure in the French avant-garde, he often focused on performers and the theater, portraying them with an unvarnished honesty. The composition utilizes the high contrast, bold outlines, and flattened depth characteristic of his best graphic endeavors, techniques often derived from Japanese ukiyo-e prints. The image encapsulates the psychological intensity often found within these public performances, using minimal detail to evoke a powerful atmosphere emblematic of the Parisian demimonde.

The choice of print medium was central to Toulouse-Lautrec’s artistic vision, enabling him to engage directly with the public sphere and making his depictions of modern French life widely accessible. The legacy of this innovative graphic art form means that many similar prints from the period are now frequently available through public domain sources, underscoring the revolutionary nature of the artist's choice of medium. This exceptional example of French graphic art, Last Ballad (Ultime ballade), is a key piece in the holdings of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring its continued study as a defining example of the modern print movement of the late 19th century.