Your Mouth (Ta bouche)

Your Mouth (Ta bouche) is a celebrated lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. This piece exemplifies the dynamism of French printmaking during the period 1876 to 1900. Executed using lithographic crayon in an evocative olive green ink printed on delicate Japan paper, the work showcases Toulouse-Lautrec's characteristic use of simplified, elegant line work and subtle color washes, perfectly suited to the reproduction medium. This technique allowed him to produce high-quality prints that were both affordable and widespread, crucial to his commercial and artistic success in late nineteenth-century Paris.

The French art scene of this era provided fertile ground for artists exploring graphic arts, and Toulouse-Lautrec became a defining figure of this movement. Rather than producing traditional painting, this piece functions as an intimate study, demonstrating the artist’s mastery in capturing essential gestures and forms with minimal effort. While the subject suggested by the title Your Mouth remains highly focused, the stylistic choices are typical of Toulouse-Lautrec’s broader oeuvre, emphasizing the sharp social observation that defined his career. His prolific graphic work often blurred the lines between high art and commercial poster design, reflecting the rapidly changing visual culture of the city and its vibrant cabaret life.

Today, this iconic composition is preserved within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it serves as a key example of the artist's inventive output and the importance of prints in the Post-Impressionist era. Given the age of the original creation, the imagery is often available as high-resolution digital files through public domain initiatives. This continued accessibility ensures that Toulouse-Lautrec’s revolutionary approach to modern prints and graphic design continues to influence contemporary artists and viewers alike.