VIII. Saluant le Public
Original title: VIII. Saluant le Public
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made the lithograph "VIII. Saluant le Public" in 1898. It shows a person at an open window, turning toward the audience. The color print was pulled with a beige tint stone on laid paper and measures 55.9 x 38.1 cm.
Description
At an open window stands a person, one hand raised in greeting, the other resting on the sill. They wear a coat; heavy curtains, partly pushed back, hang to the left and right. Diffused light enters through the opening, plunging the scene into half-close, shadowed areas. Grays dominate the color scheme, and visible strokes and hatching emphasize texture and form.
Context
This lithograph belongs to a series Toulouse-Lautrec created in 1898, when he was deeply engaged with Parisian nightlife as well as theater and variety shows. The sheet comes from a portfolio of circus or music-hall scenes; the greeting points to a performer's entrance or exit. The artist used tint stones to achieve subtle color nuances—an example of his innovative printmaking.
Impact
The restrained color and soft light give the image a calm yet present aura. The greeting gesture establishes a direct connection with the viewer. The precise draftsmanship lends the sheet an intimate, sketch-like note typical of Toulouse-Lautrec.
Technique
The lithograph was printed with a beige tint stone on laid paper, which allows a delicate, graduated color effect. The process permits fine lines and shading, with which figure and fabrics are precisely modeled.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)