Lucien Guitry

The graphic work Lucien Guitry was executed by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This piece exemplifies the artist’s prolific engagement with commercial and theatrical subjects during the Fin de Siècle. As a lithograph in black on hand-made paper, this print demonstrates the innovative techniques utilized by French artists toward the close of the nineteenth century, specifically the period spanning 1876 to 1900, when Paris was the epicenter of modern art and popular entertainment.

Toulouse-Lautrec was a master chronicler of Parisian nightlife, often creating intimate portraits of performers and actors for promotional posters and limited-edition prints. Utilizing the lithographic process allowed him to capture swift, spontaneous impressions that share the immediacy of drawing, characterized by decisive line work and deep saturation of black ink against the high quality of the paper. The composition focuses sharply on the sitter, the noted actor Lucien Guitry, relying on high contrast rather than intricate detail to convey the sitter's personality and theatrical presence.

While known globally for his paintings, the majority of Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential output was in the form of prints and posters designed for broad distribution. This emphasis on accessible graphic arts established the artist as a pivotal figure in post-Impressionist printmaking. The technique of working on hand-made paper, typical for high-end limited editions, further enhances the rich quality of the black ink, providing a textural depth often sought in fine art prints. This historic impression of Lucien Guitry is currently housed within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it serves as a key example of late nineteenth-century French graphic arts.