Tailpiece from Au Pied du Sinaï
Medium
Reproduction of a lithograph on cream wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 5.1 × 4.4 cm (2 1/16 × 1 3/4 in.); Sheet: 12.8 × 11.6 cm (5 1/16 × 4 5/8 in.)
Classification
print (reproduction)
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
146801
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings collection, this delicate tailpiece from *Au Pied du Sinaï* (1897) showcases Henri de Toulouse-Lrec's mastery of lithography. Created as a decorative flourish for the end of a book or chapter—typical of fin-de-siècle illustrated publications—the tiny image (just 5.1 × 4.4 cm) captures Lautrec's signature flair amid Paris's vibrant Belle Époque era. Lautrec, a Post-Impressionist icon known for his bold posters of Montmartre nightlife, here applies his keen eye for line and form to intimate book art. Printed as a reproduction on cream wove paper, the lithograph exemplifies Lautrec's innovative technique: fluid, expressive lines drawn directly on stone, allowing for subtle tonal variations and reproducibility. Though small, it reflects his transition from monumental posters to refined illustrations, blending whimsy with precision. This piece highlights lithography's rise as a democratic medium, making high art accessible beyond elite canvases. A charming artifact of 1890s literary culture, it invites visitors to appreciate how Lautrec infused everyday book design with his bohemian spirit, bridging visual art and narrative storytelling.
About the Artist
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1864–1901
Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (1864-1901) was a French Post-Impressionist painter, printmaker, and illustrator whose innovative poster designs revolutionized graphic art and advertising in late 19th-century Paris. Born into an aristocratic family at Albi in southern France, Toulouse-Lautrec's privileged lineage traced back to the Counts of Toulouse and extended uninterrupted to th...