Lugné-Poé, in Image

Lugné-Poé, in Image by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a striking example of fin-de-siècle Parisian portraiture. Created in 1894, this intimate work is a lithograph executed on cream wove paper, showcasing the artist's masterful control of line and psychological depth. This classification as a print highlights Lautrec’s foundational role in elevating graphic arts from commercial application to high artistic expression within France.

The subject is Aurélien-François Lugné-Poé (1869-1940), a highly influential French actor and director, best known for founding the experimental Symbolist theatre, the Théâtre de l'Oeuvre. Toulouse-Lautrec was a tireless observer of the cultural and social elite, focusing intensely on the personalities and performers who defined the fast-paced, often cynical world of late 19th-century Montmartre. Unlike his highly stylized commercial posters, this piece focuses on the sitter's individual character, rendered with economical strokes that convey an air of melancholy intensity suitable for a leading figure in the Symbolist movement.

The medium of lithography allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to produce powerful, atmospheric works quickly, making high-quality prints accessible to a wider audience than traditional painting. This emphasis on graphic production firmly establishes the artist as central to the dissemination of modern imagery. This historically significant work, Lugné-Poé, in Image, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a testament to Toulouse-Lautrec’s profound impact on modern graphic design and portraiture. The widespread circulation of these early prints means that reproductions are often available in the public domain today.