Caudieux
Original title: Caudieux
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this lithograph, titled Caudieux, in 1893. It shows the singer or actor of that name caught mid-movement. Printed in four colors on machine-made wove paper, the sheet belongs to the Parisian Belle Époque.
Description
A man in a suit and bow tie stands at the front, top hat in hand. His legs and one arm are positioned to suggest motion. A second figure lies on the ground behind him. Black and white dominate; contours are firm, figures clearly outlined. The style has touches of Art Nouveau.
Context
The print grew out of the Parisian entertainment culture that Toulouse-Lautrec followed regularly in cabarets and theaters. Caudieux was a well-known entertainer whose performances the artist captured. This lithograph belongs to a series of posters and graphics advertising Parisian stages.
Impact
The main figure's animated pose gives the sheet immediate liveliness. Few colors and clear linework produce a bold, modern aesthetic typical of Lautrec's prints.
Technique
The lithograph was printed in four colors. Machine-made wove paper served as the support, chosen for the large editions of posters. Lithography allowed Lautrec to reproduce his designs quickly and cheaply.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)