Proposal (first plate)

Proposal (first plate) is a refined lithograph created by the celebrated French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) in 1898. The print, classified definitively as a lithograph, was executed with text added upon a sheet of ivory wove paper. This specific medium choice, characteristic of Lautrec's graphic output, demonstrates his mastery in exploiting the planar qualities of the stone to produce compositions with nuanced textures and bold clarity. As indicated by its designation as a "first plate," this work likely represents an initial state or a specific iteration within a larger series of related prints.

Toulouse-Lautrec was a pivotal figure in Post-Impressionist France, renowned for his penetrating documentation of Parisian life during the Belle Époque. While the explicit subject of the Proposal (first plate) is deliberately restrained, the artist often employed the medium of the lithograph to explore themes of social interaction, intimacy, and the rapid shifts in urban morality. Lautrec's prolific production of prints was instrumental in elevating printmaking beyond mere reproduction, establishing it as a key artistic medium across Europe and particularly in France.

This significant piece of graphic work is held in the comprehensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As one of the influential prints produced by Lautrec during the final years of the 19th century, the piece serves as an important primary reference for the study of modern French art and design history. Due to the prominence of this master and the age of the work, high-quality images of many of these historical prints are frequently made available to the public through digitized collections.