Schlomé Fuss in the Synagogue by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a powerful example of the artist's late career printmaking, executed as a lithograph in 1898. Produced just two years before the artist’s death, this work offers a divergence from his typical focus on Parisian nightlife, instead centering on a specific individual within a religious setting. The portrait captures a figure seated in the confined space of a synagogue, portraying a moment of quiet introspection or ritual participation.
Toulouse-Lautrec was a prolific master of the lithographic technique, utilizing the directness and expressive potential of the medium to capture fleeting moments and complex personalities. The technique allows for the characteristic dark contours and subtle textural variations seen in Schlomé Fuss in the Synagogue. This piece demonstrates the artist’s characteristic observational skill, employing his signature sharp lines and evocative shading to define the contours of the figure and the atmosphere of the interior space.
Created in France during a period of intense social documentation in art, this lithograph reflects Toulouse-Lautrec’s commitment to documenting specific social strata previously overlooked by the academic tradition. While renowned for capturing the theaters and brothels of Montmartre, this focused portrait showcases the artist’s broader capacity for compassionate observation, moving beyond pure caricature toward psychological depth. The print contributes significantly to the legacy of late 19th-century French graphic arts.
As a crucial piece within the artist’s graphic oeuvre, Schlomé Fuss in the Synagogue is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Due to the nature of the medium, numerous high-quality prints were made, ensuring the widespread influence of the image. Today, the study of Toulouse-Lautrec's graphic works benefits greatly from their inclusion in institutional collections, with select pieces occasionally entering the public domain to ensure broad accessibility for art scholarship.
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