The Butterflies (Les papillons) from Quatorze lithographies originales (Mélodies de Désiré Dihau)

The Butterflies (Les papillons) from Quatorze lithographies originales (Mélodies de Désiré Dihau) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a masterful example of French printmaking from the late 19th century. Created in 1895, this piece is a lithograph, forming part of a rare illustrated book commissioned by Désiré Dihau. The collection provided the artist with a platform to interpret musical melodies visually, a common cross-disciplinary endeavor during the fin-de-siècle period in Paris.

Toulouse-Lautrec, renowned for his innovative approach to color lithography, utilized the demanding medium to capture the delicate, ephemeral quality suggested by the title. Though the original creation date is 1895, this particular impression was published in 1935, indicating the lasting importance and posthumous demand for his graphic work. The composition reflects the artist's characteristic use of dynamic line work, simplified forms, and subtle color washes, techniques that profoundly influenced the development of modern advertising and graphic arts across Europe.

As a piece originally designed for a limited-edition illustrated book, the lithograph exemplifies the Parisian movement to elevate prints and graphic works to the status of fine art. Unlike his large-scale commercial posters, this work provides a more intimate look into the artist's personal explorations of form and subject. This significant example of French graphic artistry is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Due to the age of the original work, high-quality prints derived from some editions of The Butterflies are now available through public domain collections, ensuring wider access to the output of this pivotal Post-Impressionist master. The work stands as a testament to Toulouse-Lautrec’s skill in capturing movement and mood through the subtle economy of the lithographic line.