Sleepless Night (from Les Vieilles Histoires)
Original title: Sleepless Night (from Les Vieilles Histoires)
kurzbeschreibung
In 1893, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created the lithograph 'Schlaflose Nacht' (Sleepless Night) as part of the series 'Les Vieilles Histoires'. It depicts a man lost in thought, gazing out a window into the night from a dark room. The print is monochrome in black and was made as a brush and spatter lithograph with scraper on wove paper.
Description
A man wrapped in a coat sits with his back to the viewer, looking out. Before him, a window opens onto a gloomy landscape with trees and a dark sky. The layout is centered, with subdued light entering from outside, evoking a wistful mood. Strong black-and-white contrasts and a spare use of forms—no other figures or details—define the image.
Context
This print belongs to 'Les Vieilles Histoires', a portfolio of lithographs Toulouse-Lautrec made in 1893 for texts by the poet Jean Goudezki. The series captures everyday, intimate moments of Parisian life, often with a touch of melancholy. In the 1890s, the artist devoted himself intensely to lithography, which allowed him experimental techniques such as spattering and scraping.
Impact
A quiet, introspective atmosphere emanates from the print, heightened by the subdued light and the turned-away figure. The nighttime setting and reduced color give the image an almost graphic clarity that invites reflection.
Technique
Executed as a brush and spatter lithograph with scraper, printed in black on wove paper. In this process, the drawing is applied to the stone with brush and spatter; then a scraper removes areas to bring out highlights and textures. The print exists in only one state.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)