Lullaby (Berceuse) from Quatorze lithographies originales (Mélodies de Désiré Dihau)

Lullaby (Berceuse) from Quatorze lithographies originales (Mélodies de Désiré Dihau) is a significant print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1895 as an intimate element of a broader artistic project. Classified as an Illustrated Book, this work was conceived in collaboration with composer Désiré Dihau, whose melodies it visually accompanied. Toulouse-Lautrec, a master chronicler of Parisian life, used the medium of the lithograph to achieve the delicate, atmospheric qualities necessary for representing personal or domestic scenes, distinct from his better-known, robust poster designs. The lithographic process allowed the artist to apply his signature graphic style, characterized by simplified forms and expressive outlines, to capture the tender subject implied by the title.

This piece stands as an excellent example of Toulouse-Lautrec’s contribution to the fin-de-siècle French art world. While the original drawing on the stone was executed in 1895, the complete edition of these unique prints was officially published in 1935, demonstrating the sustained interest in the artist’s oeuvre long after his death. The focus on the private moment suggested by the Lullaby title contrasts subtly with the artist's notorious depictions of the Moulin Rouge and the brothels of Montmartre, confirming the breadth of his visual exploration across the social strata of his time.

The work is currently housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, securing its place within the canon of modern printmaking. The enduring legacy of this lithograph stems from Toulouse-Lautrec’s masterful integration of image and text, pushing the boundaries of what an illustrated book could achieve. The piece provides crucial insight into the artistic practices of a pivotal Post-Impressionist figure whose keen eye defined the visual culture of late nineteenth-century Paris.