Reine de Joie par Victor Joze

Reine de Joie par Victor Joze is a seminal print created by the master chronicler of Parisian nightlife, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Executed primarily in the 1890s during the height of the Belle Époque, this work captures the energy and social stratification of the Montmartre district. As a key example of the artist's graphic output, this piece exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s revolutionary approach to poster design, transforming the commercial advertising medium into fine art prints.

The classification of the work as a print indicates it was likely created using lithography, a technique that allowed the artist to produce the bold fields of color and expressive, gestural lines that characterize his style. The title, which translates to "Queen of Joy," refers euphemistically to the figures associated with brothels or dance halls, central subjects for Toulouse-Lautrec.

The composition often focuses on the sharp character studies of the various women and men who populated the artist's milieu. Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for treating his subjects with an unflinching realism, capturing the dynamics between the wealthy male patrons and the working women of the demimonde. The intense focus on individual physiognomy elevated the poster from a mere advertisement to profound social commentary.

Toulouse-Lautrec's prolific output in graphic arts made his prints highly accessible and influential throughout the late 19th century. The immediate visual impact of works like Reine de Joie par Victor Joze secured his legacy as a pioneer of modern graphic design. This significant example of French prints is housed within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, ensuring its preservation and study. Given its age and iconic status, high-resolution reproductions of the print are frequently available through public domain collections.