The Box with the Gilded Mask

The Box with the Gilded Mask by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1894, is a masterful example of late 19th-century French lithography. This vibrant print was executed using a complex combination of crayon, brush, and spatter techniques, further enhanced by the subtle manipulation of a scraper across the plate. Printed in five distinct colors on delicate imitation japan paper, the finished result captures the decadent, often ambiguous atmosphere of Parisian nightlife that defined the artist’s brief but prolific career.

The subject matter centers on the private spheres of women attending the opera or theater. The composition provides an intimate glimpse into the secretive rituals of the Belle Époque social scene, specifically the enclosed viewing area known as the loge or "box." The prominence of the titular gilded mask suggests pervasive themes of identity, concealment, and the inherent performance required of women navigating modern urban society.

Toulouse-Lautrec was instrumental in elevating the status of color lithography, transforming the traditionally commercial medium of the poster into collectible fine art prints. His innovative approach to color registration and surface texture, maximizing the interplay between the various media used, is crucial to the work’s charged atmosphere. As a unique ‘only state’ print, The Box with the Gilded Mask is highly valued for its technical complexity and rarity. This significant piece is permanently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving the quality of this fin-de-siècle masterwork for public viewing and scholarly study.