The Jockey Going to the Post

"The Jockey Going to the Post" by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, French (1864-1901), is a masterful example of late 19th-century printmaking, completed in 1899. Executed as a color lithograph on ivory laid paper, this work showcases the artist's distinctive approach to line, movement, and psychological intensity. Toulouse-Lautrec embraced lithography not only for its reproductive capabilities but also for the flatness and graphic immediacy it brought to his compositions, techniques highly valued in modern commercial graphics and posters of the French fin-de-siècle period.

The subject matter, the focused world of horse racing, was a common theme among artists documenting modern Parisian life and leisure. Though often associated with the bohemian atmosphere of cabarets and dance halls, Toulouse-Lautrec also captured the quieter, more intense moments of sporting culture. This piece captures a jockey preparing for competition, emphasizing the tension and focus required just before the start. The composition utilizes simplified forms, high vantage points, and bold color areas, reflecting the strong influence of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, which were immensely popular among French Post-Impressionist circles.

As a key figure in modern French art, Toulouse-Lautrec continually experimented with the print medium, pushing its boundaries beyond mere illustration. This specific impression is cataloged as an important print and remains a vital record of the social documentation prevalent near the close of the century. Reflecting its historical importance and date, the image is now widely available in public domain art collections, though this original 1899 impression resides within the distinguished permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.