Artwork
Lender and Auguez in "La chanson de fortunio" (Lender et Auguez dans "La chanson de fortunio")
Lender and Auguez in "La chanson de fortunio" (Lender et Auguez dans "La chanson de fortunio") is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Executed in a single olive‑green hue on velin paper, the image captures a moment of poised interaction between the two figures, suggesting a theatrical setting.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1895 lithograph presents the performers Lender and Auguez as they appear in the operetta *La chanson de fortunio*. Executed in a single olive‑green hue on velin paper, the image captures a moment of poised interaction between the two figures, suggesting a theatrical setting. The work exemplifies the artist’s focus on Parisian stage life during the late nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph foregrounds Lender, distinguished by a hat, and Auguez, clutching a coat, both dressed in contemporary costume. Their stance implies a shared scene from the operetta, reflecting the elegance of the performance world and the social rituals of the Parisian theatre audience. By isolating the pair, Toulouse‑Lautrec emphasizes the personal charisma of the performers within the broader spectacle.
Technique & Style
Created with a lithographic process on velin paper, the piece employs a limited palette of olive green, reinforcing a muted, atmospheric quality. Toulouse‑Lautrec’s characteristic bold line work and simplified forms are evident, while the single‑color approach heightens contrast and draws attention to the silhouettes of the figures. The print’s flat surface and graphic clarity align with the artist’s printmaking innovations of the 1890s.
Context
At the time of its production, Toulouse‑Lautrec was establishing a reputation for documenting the vibrant nightlife and theatrical milieu of Belle Époque Paris. Though born into aristocracy, a childhood injury that limited his growth redirected his energies toward the city’s cabarets and stages, where he found subjects like Lender and Auguez. This lithograph reflects his ongoing interest in capturing the personalities that animated contemporary French entertainment.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
