Artwork

At the Picton Bar, rue Scribe (Au bar Picton, rue Scribe)

At the Picton Bar, rue Scribe (Au bar Picton, rue Scribe), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1896
At the Picton Bar, rue Scribe (Au bar Picton, rue Scribe), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1896

At the Picton Bar, rue Scribe (Au bar Picton, rue Scribe) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

At the Picton Bar, rue Scribe is a 1896 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, capturing a moment in a Parisian bar through simple, expressive black lines on velin paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two individuals in a bar setting: a formally attired man and a woman with a wide-brimmed hat and shawl, set against a minimalist backdrop of a bar counter and shelves, reflecting Toulouse-Lautrec's fascination with late 19th-century Parisian social life.

Technique & Style

Characterized by quick, loose lines and a limited black-on-light palette, the lithograph conveys a sense of spontaneity and sketchiness, emphasizing the immediacy of the observed scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1896 by Toulouse-Lautrec, an artist known for his portrayals of nightlife despite personal physical challenges, the work's provenance details are not specified here.

Context

Emerging from Toulouse-Lautrec's frequent explorations of bars, cabarets, and social gatherings, this piece situates itself within his broader oeuvre focused on the vibrant, often nocturnal, social culture of late 19th-century Paris.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of *At the Picton Bar, rue Scribe* are not provided, it contributes to Toulouse-Lautrec's overall impact on capturing the essence of Parisian life in the late 1800s through lithography.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.