Artwork

Wounded Eros (Eros vanné)

Wounded Eros (Eros vanné), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1894
Wounded Eros (Eros vanné), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1894

Wounded Eros (Eros vanné) 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

Wounded Eros (Eros vanné) is a 1894 lithograph on velin paper by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, showcasing a characteristic blend of mythological subject matter and direct graphic style.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a weary, wounded figure, identified as Eros, reclining on the ground, wrapped in a blanket, holding a spear, and bearing a head bandage. This interpretation of the mythological deity reflects Toulouse-Lautrec's fascination with rendering classical themes through a modern, empathetic lens, potentially symbolizing vulnerability and the humanization of myth.

Technique & Style

Executed in quick, loose black lines on velin paper, the lithograph embodies the urgent, spontaneous quality characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec's graphic works and late 19th-century printmaking trends, prioritizing expressive immediacy over meticulous detail.

History & Provenance

Created in 1894, the work is part of Toulouse-Lautrec's prolific output as a printmaker and illustrator, alongside his more famous depictions of Parisian nightlife. Specific provenance details are not provided.

Context

Wounded Eros sits within the broader context of late 19th-century French art, where artists like Toulouse-Lautrec were reinterpreting classical themes and embracing printmaking as a medium for contemporary commentary and expression.

Legacy

While not as widely recognized as some of Toulouse-Lautrec's nightlife scenes, Wounded Eros contributes to the artist's legacy of innovative printmaking and his ability to infuse mythological subjects with a sense of modernity and relatability.

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.