Portrait of M. X (Portrait de M. X)

The work Portrait of M. X (Portrait de M. X) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1898, is a profound example of the artist’s mastery of graphic media in the final years of the 19th century. Classified formally as a print within a specialized portfolio, this piece utilizes the demanding drypoint technique. In drypoint, the artist draws directly onto a metal plate with a sharp needle, displacing metal to form a burr. This technique is distinguishable from etching by the velvety texture the burr imparts to the printed line, allowing Toulouse-Lautrec to achieve a unique softness and atmospheric quality uncommon in starker forms of engraving.

Throughout the period spanning 1876 to 1900, Toulouse-Lautrec cemented his reputation as the premier visual chronicler of modern French life. He routinely dedicated his practice to portraiture, capturing the personalities inhabiting the theaters, cafes, and private salons of Paris. Unlike the formalized style preferred by earlier academic artists, Toulouse-Lautrec’s approach was characterized by candor, psychological insight, and abbreviated line work, often simplifying forms to emphasize the essence of the sitter. The swift, confident execution seen in Portrait of M. X reflects the contemporaneous influence of Japanese ukiyo-e prints on Parisian artistic production, confirming the artist as a vital force in the graphic renewal of the Fin de Siècle.

While the exact identity of M. X remains elusive, the portrait serves as essential documentation of the artist's dedication to high-quality printmaking, a medium he utilized to reach broader audiences through specialized portfolios and advertisements. Today, this work, originating from the highly productive late 19th-century output of this French master, is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., where it contributes to the institution’s comprehensive holdings of post-Impressionist prints. As a significant example of drypoint technique, the piece is frequently studied within scholarly contexts, often accessible among public domain art resources internationally.