The Little Box

The Little Box by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) is a significant example of French graphic art from the Fin de siècle era. Executed in 1897, this work is a color lithograph printed on ivory wove paper, showcasing the artist’s mastery of the demanding print medium. The classification as a print underscores the artist's dedication to popular and affordable reproductive arts, a movement that allowed high-quality imagery to circulate widely throughout France and beyond.

Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for his insightful and often unflinching documentation of the complex social realities of turn-of-the-century Parisian life, particularly the world of cabarets, theaters, and opera houses. Although the specific subject matter of The Little Box is intimate, it falls within the broader genre of documenting contemporary society and performance, a defining characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec’s mature output. The use of simplified forms and saturated color in this piece exemplifies the direct, dynamic aesthetic that distinguished his work from his Impressionist predecessors.

The artist’s sophisticated command of the lithographic process allowed him to capture the nuanced lighting and distinct atmosphere of the interior space. As one of the most celebrated printmakers of the 19th century, Toulouse-Lautrec’s graphic works profoundly influenced modern commercial art. This unique impression resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a crucial reference point for the study of French art and the history of prints.