Artwork

Lugne Poe and Baldy in "Au-dessus des forces humaines" (Lugne Poe et Baldy dans "Au-desses des forces humaines")

Lugne Poe and Baldy in "Au-dessus des forces humaines" (Lugne Poe et Baldy dans "Au-desses des forces humaines") is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1894 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captures a dramatic scene from the play *Au-dessus des forces humaines*, featuring actors Lugné Poe and Baldy in a poignant pose.

Subject & Meaning

The lithograph portrays Lugné Poe standing with arms raised and Baldy seated, her head turned towards him, conveying emotional intensity against a dark, dramatic backdrop.

Technique & Style

Executed in black lithograph, the work leverages bold lines, expressive shading, and high contrast to amplify the performers' emotions, characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec's expressive printmaking style.

History & Provenance

Created in 1894, this piece reflects Toulouse-Lautrec's involvement with Paris's avant-garde and theatrical circles, a hallmark of his late 19th-century oeuvre.

Context

Part of Toulouse-Lautrec's broader documentation of Parisian theatrical and social life, this work sits alongside his other captures of the city's vibrant artistic scene.

Artist & collection

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.