Lender Full Face in "Chilperic" (Lender de face dans "Chilpéric")

The work Lender Full Face in "Chilperic" (Lender de face dans "Chilpéric") was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. This striking image, classified as a print, utilizes the medium of a lithograph executed specifically in olive green ink. Created during the influential French Fin-de-Siècle era (1876 to 1900), the piece captures the vibrant theatrical life of late 19th-century Paris, a subject matter that defined Toulouse-Lautrec's graphic output.

As a master of graphic arts, Toulouse-Lautrec frequently employed the speed and fluidity of lithography to capture the immediacy and character of his subjects. This print features a focused portrait of a performer, referred to simply as "Lender," associated with the popular comic opera Chilpéric. The artist’s keen focus on the face, devoid of extensive background detail, draws the viewer into the dramatic presence of the individual. The unusual, monochromatic use of olive green is characteristic of the experimental approach to color and tone that Toulouse-Lautrec brought to his prints, challenging the conventional color palettes often used in commercial artwork of the era.

This piece exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s role in elevating commercial prints and poster design to fine art status. His observational skill cemented his reputation as one of the most important French artists of his generation. While often famous for his depictions of figures from the Moulin Rouge, this work demonstrates the breadth of his interest across the various aspects of Parisian entertainment. Today, this significant example of his graphic work resides in the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Like many masterworks from this prolific period, Lender Full Face in "Chilperic" is widely studied, and high-quality prints are often found in public domain collections, ensuring its accessibility for global research and appreciation.