Leaving the Theater

"Leaving the Theater," created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, in 1896, is a sophisticated lithograph capturing the often-overlooked scenes of Parisian nightlife. This original print, executed in black ink on cream wove paper, exemplifies Lautrec's profound engagement with graphic arts and the immediacy offered by the print medium during the height of the Belle Époque in France.

Lautrec specialized in using lithography not only for commercial posters but also for intimate observational studies of the city’s inhabitants, particularly those associated with the performance and entertainment industries. The work, dating from his mature period, employs his distinctive economy of line and strong compositional structure. The title suggests a moment of transition and movement, likely depicting figures in cloaks or hats exiting a venue, reflecting the artist’s interest in candid, unposed scenarios rather than formal portraiture.

As a master of the black-and-white print, Lautrec’s technique allows light and shadow to define form with remarkable speed and intensity. His decision to work extensively in lithography contributed significantly to the democratization of art, creating high-quality prints that made his distinctive style widely accessible throughout France and beyond. This piece provides essential insight into the social milieu of the 1890s.

The Art Institute of Chicago holds this significant example of late 19th-century French graphic work in its collection. While much of Lautrec's extensive catalog has entered the public domain, Leaving the Theater remains a crucial artifact for studying his mastery of line and his influence on modern illustration.