Artwork
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Maurin. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Charles Maurin’s 1890 print, titled Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec, presents a stark black‑and‑white portrait of a gentleman in a hat and high‑collared coat. The figure’s head is turned slightly away, and he holds a lit cigarette in his right hand, set against a dark, uneven background that accentuates his facial features.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of quiet introspection, the illuminated cigarette suggesting a fleeting pause in an otherwise anonymous urban scene. The subject’s turned profile and the subdued lighting convey a sense of anonymity common to the nightlife of late‑19th‑century Paris.
Technique & Style
Maurin employed aquatint combined with etching to achieve a grainy, textured surface, a method widely used in the 1800s to render tonal variations. The technique allows for deep shadows and subtle gradations, giving the portrait its characteristic atmospheric depth.
History & Provenance
Created in 1890, the print reflects the collaborative spirit of the Parisian art world, where artists often depicted one another. While the original ownership trail is not fully documented, the work remains a representative example of Maurin’s printmaking during the Belle Époque.
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