Your Mouth

Your Mouth by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) is a profound example of graphic art from the height of the Belle Époque, executed in 1893. This classification of print utilizes the medium of color lithography on tan wove paper, a technique Lautrec expertly employed to capture the immediate and vibrant atmosphere of Parisian life. The process allowed him to merge fine art sensibilities with the graphic punch necessary for mass reproduction, solidifying his role as a leading figure in Post-Impressionist commercial and artistic prints.

The composition focuses intimately on the subject’s face, demonstrating Lautrec’s characteristic interest in human expression and psychology. Unlike the grand historical narratives of earlier generations, the artist focused on the modern, often unvarnished, personalities found in theaters, cafés, and cabarets across France. His style, marked by economical use of line, flattened perspective, and strong outlines, reflects the influence of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints. This formal approach gives the work a graphic immediacy that distinguishes it from contemporary painting traditions.

As a renowned master of lithography, Lautrec produced a comprehensive catalog of prints that documented fin-de-siècle French culture. This significant impression of Your Mouth is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a critical reference point for the study of late 19th-century printmaking. Due to the artwork’s age and historical importance, such works by Lautrec frequently enter the public domain, ensuring their continued accessibility and study across the globe.