The Hairdresser, Program for the Théâtre Libre by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) is a pivotal example of late 19th-century graphic design, created in 1893. This piece is a color lithograph printed on cream wove paper, showcasing the technical mastery Lautrec brought to the emerging genre of commercial art in France. Serving as a program for the progressive Théâtre Libre, the work captured the intimate, often unglamorous, atmosphere of Parisian life and its dedicated service industries.
Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the private lives of working individuals, and this program depicts a focused interior scene of a hairdresser tending carefully to a client. Lautrec’s signature style is immediately evident in the dynamic yet contained composition, utilizing flat planes of color and strong outlines influenced by Japanese woodblock prints. The sophisticated use of the color lithograph technique allowed him to achieve nuanced tones and vibrant contrasts, moving beyond mere reproduction to create fine art prints that functioned both commercially and aesthetically. Lautrec’s ability to imbue everyday subjects with dignity and psychological depth made him one of the most celebrated printmakers of his time.
The enduring visual culture created by this artist redefined advertising and theatrical promotion during the Belle Époque. This specific impression of The Hairdresser, Program for the Théâtre Libre is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. While the work dates back to 1893, high-quality images of this lithograph are frequently made available for viewing and study through public domain art initiatives, reinforcing its status as an important document of French cultural history.
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