Snobism

Snobism is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. This piece was produced using a photomechanical process, a technique that allowed the artist to reproduce imagery efficiently and disseminate it widely, fitting the rapid commercialization of French art production in the period 1876 to 1900.

As a central observer of Fin de siècle Parisian life, Toulouse-Lautrec focused his artistic energies on capturing candid, unvarnished glimpses of modern society. The classification of the work as a print underscores the artist’s commitment to graphic media, which he utilized effectively to document and critique contemporary manners. The title, Snobism, suggests a biting social commentary aimed specifically at the pretension, artificial sophistication, and class posturing that characterized the city’s bourgeois and upper-class circles—a recurrent subject in Lautrec's influential oeuvre.

The innovative adoption of the photomechanical process for this work highlights Toulouse-Lautrec's role in pioneering modern graphic arts. Unlike traditional hand-drawn processes like etching or lithography, this medium allowed for a rapid, almost photographic immediacy in composition, suitable for capturing the fleeting social moments that defined his artistic environment. This approach contrasts sharply with academic traditions, positioning the work firmly within the experimental context of late 19th century French art.

This important example of French printmaking from the late nineteenth century remains a foundational piece for understanding the transition to modern visual culture. This unique work is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and enthusiasts an essential insight into the artist’s graphic output from the period 1876 to 1900. Due to its historical significance, the image is widely studied, and high-quality reproductions of this artwork may sometimes enter the public domain.