Lugne Poe and Baldy in "Au-dessus des forces humaines" (Lugne Poe et Baldy dans "Au-desses des forces humaines")

Lugne Poe and Baldy in "Au-dessus des forces humaines" (Lugne Poe et Baldy dans "Au-desses des forces humaines") is a powerful lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1894. This print, executed exclusively in black ink, demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s characteristic skill in capturing the immediacy and psychological depth of Parisian theatrical life during the French Belle Époque. The simplicity of the medium-a lithograph in black-underscores the artist’s mastery of line, light, and shadow, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the subject's expression and interaction.

The work focuses on two pivotal figures from the avant-garde stage: actor and theater director Aurélien Lugné-Poe and his colleague Baldy. Lugné-Poe was instrumental in advancing the Symbolist drama movement through his direction of the Théâtre de l'Œuvre. Toulouse-Lautrec, an avid chronicler of performers and theater patrons, often captured private moments behind the scenes or the intense focus required during rehearsals. The composition suggests a heated discussion or moment of dramatic intensity between the two men, their forms rendered quickly and expressively.

Executed late in the period spanning 1876 to 1900, this piece exemplifies how Toulouse-Lautrec documented the fin-de-siècle world of cabarets, cafés, and dramatic arts, distinguishing him as one of the era’s most astute observers. His prolific output of prints and posters served both artistic and commercial purposes, ensuring wide distribution of images celebrating modern life. The raw energy captured in this French artwork confirms why Toulouse-Lautrec’s graphic works remain crucial historical documents. This valuable example of his prints is housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it contributes to the understanding of late 19th-century graphic traditions.