Shooting Stars, from Mélodies de Désiré Dihau

Shooting Stars, from Mélodies de Désiré Dihau by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a delicate and characteristic example of the artist's graphic output from the mid-1890s. Created in 1895, this print is a lithograph executed on cream wove paper. Toulouse-Lautrec was instrumental in elevating the artistic potential of the lithographic medium, transforming the affiche (poster) and small-scale prints into major cultural statements in late 19th-century France.

The work belongs to a suite of images that accompanied musical scores or programs, reflecting Toulouse-Lautrec’s deep engagement with the Parisian entertainment scene. Désiré Dihau, the musician central to the Mélodies suite, was a longtime friend and frequent subject of the artist. While specific figurative details are often simplified or abstracted in the artist's graphic works, the economical use of line and implied movement in this piece perfectly captures the energy and fleeting quality of light suggested by the title. The composition is noted for its masterful control of negative space and selective use of color, typical of the Japanese-influenced styles that heavily impacted French visual culture during the fin-de-siècle. This piece demonstrates why Toulouse-Lautrec is considered one of the most important figures in post-Impressionist graphic arts.

Classified simply as a print, Shooting Stars remains a pivotal example of late 19th-century French artistic innovation. The original impression is held within the renowned collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, contributing significantly to the museum's major holdings of works by Toulouse-Lautrec. As a historical artwork whose creation dates qualify it for the public domain, high-quality images of this lithograph are often made available for study and reference worldwide, allowing scholars and enthusiasts alike to appreciate the subtle genius of this master of the printed form.