Mary Hamilton

Mary Hamilton, a significant print by the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901), was created in 1894. This highly expressive work is classified as a print, specifically a lithograph executed on cream wove paper. The selection of lithography reflects the artist's dedication to modernizing printmaking techniques, allowing him to create accessible yet impactful visual compositions that blurred the line between fine art and commercial advertisement.

Toulouse-Lautrec excelled at documenting the vivid energy and often underlying melancholy of Parisian society during the fin-de-siècle in France. His style, characterized by sharp contours, dynamic immediacy, and a distinctive mastery of line, drew heavily upon the aesthetic flattening seen in Japanese ukiyo-e prints. These artistic choices allowed the artist to capture the essence of his subjects without excessive detail, focusing instead on character and psychological depth.

While biographical specifics regarding "Mary Hamilton" are not definitively documented, the subject fits squarely within the artist’s established canon of portraits depicting the celebrated figures, dancers, and actors from the Montmartre nightlife scene he frequented. This piece functions as a penetrating glimpse into the cultural transition occurring in the French capital during this period.

The work is housed in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a landmark example of modern artistic printmaking and a key depiction of turn-of-the-century culture, the artwork Mary Hamilton continues to be studied as an essential contribution to the history of graphic arts.