Tailpiece from Au Pied du Sinaï

Tailpiece from Au Pied du Sinaï by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 is an exemplary work of graphic arts created in 1897. Classified as a print, this piece is a carefully executed reproduction of an original lithograph designed by Toulouse-Lautrec to conclude a section of a larger publication, lending a definitive visual accent to the literary text Au Pied du Sinaï.

The work captures the distinctive draftsmanship that defined Lautrec’s artistic contribution to fin-de-siècle France. Unlike many of his famous posters, which were designed for mass consumption and vibrant color, this image maintains the intimate scale and detailed line work characteristic of fine art prints intended for connoisseurship. The reproduction retains the textural quality of the original lithograph, rendered on cream wove paper. Lithography was a preferred medium for Lautrec, allowing him great freedom and spontaneity in translating his sketches of contemporary life into repeatable art.

Lautrec’s sophisticated understanding of line and composition is evident even in this small-scale tailpiece. The production date of 1897 places this work toward the culmination of the artist’s highly influential, yet tragically short, career. His focus on Parisian life, particularly its theatrical and often marginal figures, cemented his reputation as a primary chronicler of modern urban culture in France. This particular piece is preserved in the extensive collection of prints at the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as a vital example of late 19th-century French graphic design and artistic innovation, making it a frequently studied reference work often available in the public domain.