Artwork
For You (Pour toi!...)
For You (Pour toi!...) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec’s 1893 lithograph Pour toi!
About this work
Overview
Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec’s 1893 lithograph Pour toi! (For You...) is a four‑color print executed on velin paper. The composition shows a gentleman in a black suit, white shirt and cane, standing before a white sculptural figure with an oversized nose and broad grin. The surrounding space is rendered in muted gray and pink tones, creating a light‑hearted atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure appears intrigued, his gaze fixed on the exaggerated statue, suggesting a playful interaction between observer and object. The caricatured sculpture, with its distorted features, reflects the artist’s interest in satire and the whimsical side of Parisian nightlife, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between elegance and absurdity.
Technique & Style
Created through a four‑color lithographic process, the work demonstrates Toulouse‑Lautrec’s mastery of printmaking, employing bold outlines and flat areas of color characteristic of his graphic approach. The use of velin paper provides a smooth surface that enhances the crispness of the lines and the subtle tonal variations in the background.
History & Provenance
Produced during the period when Toulouse‑Lautrec was actively documenting the cafés, cabarets and brothels of late‑19th‑century Paris, the print was likely circulated among the artist’s circle of collectors and admirers. Its survival in museum collections attests to its role as a representative example of his urban print oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.
