Mademoiselle Pois Vert

Mademoiselle Pois Vert by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 is a vibrant example of fin-de-siècle graphic art, executed in 1895. This striking print is a color lithograph rendered on cream wove paper, showcasing the artist’s mastery of the demanding printing process. Lautrec, a dedicated chronicler of Parisian nightlife, focused his attention on the performers and personalities of Montmartre, using the bold, flattened planes of color inherent to lithography to capture the ephemeral energy of the modern city.

The work reflects the widespread adoption of the color lithograph as a powerful artistic and commercial medium in 1890s France. Lautrec utilized the lithographic stone not merely for reproduction but as an expressive tool, moving beyond traditional portraiture to create potent visual observations of his subjects. This emphasis on graphic output made his unique perspective widely accessible; many of his prints served as posters or magazine illustrations, defining the visual culture of the era. The technique often involves strong outlines and limited color palettes, influenced by contemporary Japanese woodblock prints, which gave his depictions of entertainers and bourgeois society a startling immediacy.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s focus on individual character, even within the highly stylized atmosphere of his graphic works, defines his major contribution to Post-Impressionism. The name of the subject, Mademoiselle Pois Vert (Miss Green Pea), suggests a specific personality or performer who frequented the dance halls and cafés of Paris, typical of the personalized portraits he produced during this prolific period. As a key work of French printmaking from the late 19th century, this piece is an integral part of the permanent collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.