The Chestnut Vendor (Le marchand de marrons)

The Chestnut Vendor (Le marchand de marrons) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a poignant and technically sophisticated example of the French artist's late graphic output, originally conceived in 1897. Executed as a lithograph, a medium Toulouse-Lautrec favored for its adaptability and speed, the work captures the gritty reality of Parisian street commerce. The printing process allowed for bold, economic lines and atmospheric shading, perfectly suited to documenting the fleeting moments of everyday life in the capital. While the image was created shortly before the artist’s death, the edition was officially published in 1925, ensuring its legacy for future generations of print enthusiasts.

Toulouse-Lautrec consistently turned his observational eye toward the often-overlooked citizens of fin-de-siècle Paris, offering sensitive portraits of individuals engaged in labor or leisure. The subject of the print is a solitary figure bundled against the cold, tending to his charcoal-fired brazier used for roasting chestnuts. This vendor embodies a characteristic fixture of French urban life during the colder months. Unlike his famous posters depicting cabaret stars, this piece focuses on a mundane yet essential figure, illustrating Toulouse-Lautrec’s commitment to capturing the full social spectrum of his city.

The print serves as a crucial document in the history of graphic arts, demonstrating how Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the medium beyond commercial advertising into high art. His work influenced countless artists exploring modern life through reproducible prints. Today, this iconic depiction of urban labor is housed within the prestigious permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains a key reference point for scholars examining late 19th-century French culture and the revolutionary application of the lithograph technique.