Artwork
Ribot Deposition (Déposition Ribot)

Ribot Deposition (Déposition Ribot) 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
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec produced the lithograph *Ribot Deposition* in 1896. Executed as a single‑plane print, the work captures a bustling interior where a group of figures surrounds a prone central figure. The composition is rendered with swift, gestural lines that convey motion rather than precise detail, giving the scene an immediacy akin to a candid observation.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a densely populated room, likely a theatrical or social setting, in which onlookers gather around a fallen individual. Attire such as hats and coats suggests a public venue, while the blurred faces and outstretched hands emphasize collective reaction over personal identity, reflecting Lautrec’s interest in the dynamics of crowd behavior and urban life.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the print relies on the artist’s direct drawing on a stone or metal plate, allowing the rapid, sketch‑like strokes that dominate the composition. The loose line work, with its fluid contours and minimal shading, highlights Lautrec’s preference for capturing the kinetic energy of a moment rather than rendering fine anatomical or textural detail.
History & Provenance
*Ribot Deposition* emerged during a prolific period when Lautrec was establishing himself as a leading printmaker in Paris. Though specific ownership records are limited, the lithograph forms part of the artist’s broader output that documented the nightlife and theatrical world of late‑19th‑century France, and it continues to appear in exhibitions of his print work.
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.
















