← Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

The Final Outing (from Les Vieilles Histoires)

Original title: The Final Outing (from Les Vieilles Histoires)

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Date

1893

Medium

Brush and spatter lithograph printed in black on mounted wove paper; only state

Dimensions

Sheet: 14 3/16 × 10 13/16 in. (36 × 27.5 cm) Image: 10 7/16 × 7 3/16 in. (26.5 × 18.2 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982

kurzbeschreibung

Unlike other equestrian images in the series, this print focuses on a single, dark figure. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made the lithograph in 1893 in black on wove paper. It shows the silhouette of a person on horseback, set within an urban environment. The work belongs to the suite 'Les Vieilles Histoires'.

Description

A black silhouette sits on a horse that is in motion; the person holds a stick or cane and wears a hat and jacket. Behind them, buildings and a fence suggest a city. The image remains entirely in black and white, with strong shading and harsh contrasts. The visible strokes and the intaglio effect reveal the lithograph.

Context

This lithograph was created in 1893 as part of 'Les Vieilles Histoires', a series based on poems by Jean Goudezki. At the time, Toulouse-Lautrec often devoted himself to Parisian nightlife and figures on the margins of society. For the print, he chose brush and spatter technique in a single state—typical of his experimentation with printmaking.

Impact

The silhouette and the moving horse bring liveliness and drama to the image. Because everything remains monochromatic and the shadows meet harshly, a gloomy, almost wistful mood emerges. It suits the title 'The Last Ride'.

Technique

The lithograph was printed with brush and spatter technique on wove paper. It is in black and represents the only state. The visible strokes and the intaglio quality make the peculiarities of this technique apparent.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)