Why Not? . . . Once is Not to Make a Habit of It

Why Not? . . . Once is Not to Make a Habit of It is a distinctive lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893, demonstrating the artist’s virtuosity in graphic media. This particular print was executed using a combination of crayon and brushwork, enhanced by the application of the 'spatter' technique. The resulting texture breaks up the solid areas of tone, lending the work a visual softness typical of Lautrec's innovative approach to lithography. The image is rendered entirely in olive green ink on wove paper and is cataloged as the only known state.

Toulouse-Lautrec was instrumental in elevating prints from commercial ephemera to fine art, capturing the vibrant and often candid reality of Parisian life during the fin-de-siècle. This work focuses closely on the social landscape, specifically documenting intimate interactions. The composition frames the distinct profiles of several men, depicted with the rapid, gestural economy that characterizes the artist's finest drawings.

Dating from the peak period of the artist's printmaking career, the work exemplifies his commitment to capturing authentic human moments without romanticization. The subtlety of the olive green palette, rather than the bright colors often seen in his posters, emphasizes line and shadow, lending the piece a quiet observational power. This significant example of late 19th-century French graphic art is preserved in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. High-resolution records of the work are frequently made accessible to the public domain through the museum’s digitization projects, allowing wide study of Toulouse-Lautrec’s mastery of the medium.