The Fine Printmaker Adolphe Albert (Le bon graveur - Adolphe Albert) is a singular lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898. Executed on wove paper, this print exemplifies the artist's distinctive graphic style, characterized by economical line work and a profound focus on personality. The work belongs to the period spanning 1876 to 1900, capturing the spirit of the late nineteenth-century French avant-garde and its fascination with the everyday figures who populated the artistic and social landscape of Paris.
Toulouse-Lautrec, a master chronicler of bohemian life, frequently turned to the medium of lithography for its expressive immediacy and commercial accessibility. This technique allowed the artist to distribute his prints widely, cementing his reputation as a key figure in modern graphic arts. The subject, Adolphe Albert, is identified by the subtitle as "the good engraver," suggesting that the work serves not only as a portrait but also as an homage to the craft of printmaking itself. In rendering Albert, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the fluid capabilities of the lithographic process to achieve rapid contours, conveying the subject's character without relying on traditional academic finish. The classification of the piece confirms its importance within the artist’s extensive output of commercial and fine art prints.
This intimate portrait is housed in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work serves as an important visual document of Toulouse-Lautrec’s professional milieu and his unwavering commitment to recording his time with journalistic precision. The influence of the French graphic tradition is evident throughout his prints, demonstrating a modern sensibility that continues to resonate today. Due to its age and stature, the legacy of graphic output by masters like Toulouse-Lautrec often means that high-quality files of works such as The Fine Printmaker Adolphe Albert (Le bon graveur - Adolphe Albert) are increasingly entering the public domain, ensuring global access to these vital historical documents.