Program for La Lépreuse

The Program for La Lépreuse is a notable color lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1896. This print, executed on tan wove paper, showcases the artist’s unparalleled mastery of the lithographic medium, which he utilized extensively for commercial and theatrical advertising. Lautrec was deeply immersed in documenting the lively Parisian entertainment world, frequently designing promotional materials like programs and posters for the city’s cabarets, theaters, and opera houses. This specific piece served as the program cover for the production La Lépreuse (The Leper Woman).

Reflecting the dramatic visual culture of late 19th-century France, Lautrec employed distinct graphic qualities in this work. His innovative use of simplified forms, sharp contour lines, and a selective color palette positioned him at the vanguard of modern poster design, significantly influencing the emerging Art Nouveau movement. The prints he produced were crucial components of the popular culture landscape, easily disseminated and widely recognized across France. Lautrec’s signature style focuses on capturing the mood and atmosphere of the Parisian spectacle, often portraying performers and patrons with incisive psychological depth.

Produced only five years before his death, this lithograph stands as an important example of Lautrec’s mature graphic output. The artist’s pioneering work in the medium contributed greatly to the classification of prints as fine art. As many of the artist's influential works are now in the public domain, they remain central to the history of modern graphic design. This specific impression of the 1896 program resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key resource for understanding French visual arts at the turn of the century.