The Arton Trial, Ribot Giving Evidence (second plate)

The Arton Trial, Ribot Giving Evidence (second plate), created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1896, captures a pivotal moment in contemporary French political history. This compelling work is a lithograph printed on tan wove paper, exemplifying the artist's mastery of the graphic arts during the fin-de-siècle period.

Lautrec, known for documenting the social theater of Parisian life, turned his journalistic eye toward the sensational Arton affair. Georges Arton was a key figure implicated in the extended fallout of the Panama Canal scandals, and his trial gripped France in the mid-1890s. The artist specifically depicts the testimony of Alexandre Ribot, a major political figure who had served multiple terms as Prime Minister, placing the viewer directly within the tense atmosphere of the courtroom.

The swift, graphic capabilities of lithography allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to render the scene with immediacy and focus. The work showcases the artist’s economical line work and his distinctive ability to convey the personalities of public figures through caricature and calculated composition. As a significant example of French political documentation rendered through innovative printing, the piece stands as historical commentary.

This print resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering crucial insight into the graphic output of one of the era’s most influential artists. While this specific impression is a unique institutional holding, other high-quality prints stemming from Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential body of work are often accessible through resources dedicated to art in the public domain.