Last Ballad (Ultime ballade)

Last Ballad (Ultime ballade) is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. Executed as a lithograph in black and yellow on velin paper, this work demonstrates the artist's innovative approach to printmaking during the late 19th century. Toulouse-Lautrec was a master of the lithographic process, favoring its immediacy and graphic potential to capture the transient energy and often harsh realities of Parisian nightlife. As a key figure in the French Post-Impressionist movement, his focus on popular, contemporary subjects and rapid execution aligns perfectly with the visual trends dominating the period between 1876 to 1900.

The subject matter of this lithograph reflects Toulouse-Lautrec's deep engagement with the bohemian and theatrical circles of fin-de-siècle Paris. The composition relies on graphic power and stark contrast, achieved through the deliberate limitation of color. The use of only black and yellow ink heightens the dramatic atmosphere appropriate for the title, suggesting the melancholic final notes or climatic moment of a song or performance within a cabaret or brothel setting. The simplification of form and expressive line work present in the piece reveal the artist’s debt to Japanese woodblock prints while simultaneously helping to define modern poster design and advertising.

Classified specifically as a print, the technical precision and evocative imagery of Last Ballad make it a highly valuable example of Toulouse-Lautrec's graphic output. This important piece is housed within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it contributes to the museum's comprehensive holdings of European works on paper. Due to the historical nature and widespread production of prints from this era, masterpieces like this are often considered crucial components of the artistic record, frequently available for study and reproduction as part of the public domain.