Le bézigue

Le bézigue is a seminal lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1895. This evocative print, produced using the demanding technique of lithography and subsequently enhanced with meticulous hand-coloring on tan wove paper, showcases the artist’s technical versatility. Such production practices were instrumental in heightening the pictorial effect and expanding the reach of fine art prints during the late 19th century.

The subject matter, centered on the popular card game Bézigue, reflects Lautrec's characteristic fascination with the social rituals and leisure activities defining modern Parisian life. While the artist is famously associated with the bohemian atmosphere of Montmartre cabarets, the intimate scene captured in this work suggests a quieter moment, potentially within a private parlor or salon. Toulouse-Lautrec’s highly expressive approach utilized sharp observation and dynamic line work to instantly convey the character and mood of his subjects, rendering them unforgettable types of the era in France.

The immediacy and deliberate use of flattened color zones, characteristic of graphic arts in the fin-de-siècle, cement this piece as a powerful example of Lautrec's influence on Post-Impressionist printmaking. His prolific output of prints helped disseminate his vision widely and solidified his status among the foremost chroniclers of the age. This significant work, Le bézigue, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a critical reference point for the study of the complex visual culture of 19th-century France.