Lebaudy Trial - Testimony of Mlle. Marsy (Procès Lebaudy - Déposition de Mlle. Marsy)

"Lebaudy Trial - Testimony of Mlle. Marsy (Procès Lebaudy - Déposition de Mlle. Marsy)" is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This work, executed as a lithograph in red, captures the artist’s enduring fascination with the dramatic events and figures dominating contemporary Fin de Siècle Paris. The period from 1876 to 1900 saw Toulouse-Lautrec expanding his focus beyond the famed cabarets and cafés of Montmartre to comment critically on sensational societal and legal happenings.

The subject matter refers to the widely publicized Lebaudy trial, a major event that riveted French society in the mid-1890s. Toulouse-Lautrec’s depiction centers specifically on the court testimony of Mlle. Marsy, reflecting the era’s intense appetite for media coverage of legal drama and high society scandal. The distinct choice of a single, vibrant red ink emphasizes the immediacy and psychological intensity of the courtroom scene. This use of monochrome color, characteristic of many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s later prints, elevates the emotional temperature of the image, transforming a mere journalistic record into a work of expressive art. The economical and rapid line work, defining character and mood with minimal detail, is typical of Toulouse-Lautrec's graphic style.

As a quintessential example of French graphic art from the late 19th century, this piece documents a precise moment in French culture and demonstrates the critical transition of the poster and print medium from advertisement into serious artistic commentary. The work highlights the artist’s commitment to documenting the nuances and dramas of modern Parisian life. This important print, which exemplifies the graphic mastery of Toulouse-Lautrec, is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.