The Red Herring (L'Hareng saur) from Quatorze lithographies originales (Mélodies de Désiré Dihau)

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's lithograph, The Red Herring (L'Hareng saur) from Quatorze lithographies originales (Mélodies de Désiré Dihau), was created in 1895. This print is classified as an Illustrated Book component, reflecting Toulouse-Lautrec’s deep involvement with graphic arts and Parisian fin-de-siècle culture. The full portfolio, Quatorze lithographies originales, was dedicated to Désiré Dihau, a celebrated French bassoonist and composer who was a frequent subject of the artist’s work. While many of the artist's most famous images captured the vibrant, chaotic energy of dancers and café concerts, The Red Herring (L'Hareng saur) likely offers a more intimate moment, potentially a portrait or a subtle study related to Dihau's personal and musical circle.

The choice of the lithograph medium underscores Toulouse-Lautrec’s pioneering role in elevating printmaking to the status of fine art. He expertly utilized the expressive potential of the stone, allowing for rapid, spontaneous drawing and the rich, subtle tonal variations characteristic of his mature style in the 1890s. This mastery of printmaking made him a defining figure in the evolution of modern commercial and fine art graphics.

Although the image was conceived and drawn in 1895, this specific impression was part of the comprehensive portfolio that was published posthumously in 1935, nearly four decades after its creation. The significant gap between the initial design date (1895) and the publication date (1935) highlights the enduring historical significance and continuous demand for the artist’s graphic output. This work remains a crucial example of French Post-Impressionist printmaking.

This rare lithograph, documenting the collaborations of the 1890s, resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. As the initial creation date places the work within a long-established artistic period, high-quality images and prints of this design are frequently made available through global public domain archives, allowing widespread access to the unique vision of Toulouse-Lautrec.