W. H. B. Sands, Publisher

W. H. B. Sands, Publisher by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901), is a distinctive example of the artist's late graphic output, created in 1898. This intimate portrait utilizes the drypoint technique, executed from a zinc plate onto cream laid Japanese paper. Drypoint is characterized by the rich, velvety burr created when the needle scratches the plate, yielding lines that are particularly expressive and immediate. The choice of Japanese paper reflects the significant influence of Japonisme on French printmakers during the fin-de-siècle.

Created three years before his premature death, the work illustrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s continuous engagement with portraiture and figures associated with the cultural and commercial life of Paris. While Lautrec is often celebrated for his vibrant depictions of dancers and performers, here he turns his discerning eye toward W. H. B. Sands, a figure central to the publishing world. Toulouse-Lautrec’s masterful composition emphasizes the sitter's demeanor through sparse lines, prioritizing psychological insight and character over decorative detail.

This medium, integral to the artist's legacy, allowed for the rapid dissemination of his work. Prints like W. H. B. Sands, Publisher were part of a movement that made graphic art increasingly accessible to the public, examples of which are now often found in the public domain. The immediacy achieved in this piece secured its place as an important work in the graphic arts tradition of France, and it currently resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.