Schlomé Fuss à la Synagogue

Schlomé Fuss à la Synagogue is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec during the final decade of the 19th century, circa 1890-1900. Executed in the medium of lithograph, this piece exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec's mastery of graphic art, utilizing the expressive potential of flat color and line to capture intimate, observational moments. The artist's focus on the human figure and his ability to render individual psychology made him a vital chronicler of fin-de-siècle France. The increased accessibility of prints and posters during this period allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to disseminate his unique viewpoint widely, cementing his reputation.

While the artist is most famous for his depictions of cabarets and dance halls, works such as Schlomé Fuss à la Synagogue demonstrate his broader interest in specific portraiture and cultural observation. The subject, Schlomé Fuss, is presented within the environment of a synagogue, offering valuable insight into the diverse social fabric of France at the turn of the century. The immediacy and graphic clarity inherent to the lithograph medium suggest it was drawn from direct observation, a key characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec's style. This particular impression of the print is held in the esteemed collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, contributing to the museum's holdings of influential European prints. Examples of Toulouse-Lautrec’s artistic output are now widely recognized, with many of his celebrated works having entered the public domain.