Zimmerman and His Machine

"Zimmerman and His Machine" is a dynamic color lithograph created in 1895 by the renowned French Post-Impressionist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901). This work, classified as a print, showcases Lautrec’s mastery of the demanding lithographic process, rendered specifically on tan wove paper. This medium allowed the artist to achieve the vibrant, graphic intensity characteristic of his most famous productions.

The piece captures the spirit of fin-de-siècle France, a period characterized by rapid technological advancements and the increasing visibility of competitive sport. While Lautrec is often associated with documentation of Parisian cabarets and theaters, he also turned his perceptive eye toward athletic figures. The subject, Zimmerman, is likely Arthur Augustus Zimmerman (1869-1917), an American cyclist who achieved global celebrity in the 1890s, especially while competing extensively across Europe and France. The "machine" depicted is undoubtedly his racing bicycle, illustrating the close relationship between the modern sportsman and his cutting-edge equipment.

Lautrec’s characteristic graphic style emphasizes movement and line, utilizing stark compositional elements often found in the Japanese woodblock ukiyo-e prints that greatly influenced his generation. This particular depiction of sporting life is a key example of the artist’s broad portfolio beyond the famous scenes of the Moulin Rouge. This important print is held in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a highly celebrated work created during the height of the artist’s career, Zimmerman and His Machine is today frequently reproduced, making high-quality prints accessible through various public domain art initiatives.