Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
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"Reine de Joie"
Lithograph in colour, 1892. printed by Ancourt, Paris, on two joined sheets of wove paper, printed by Ancourt, with the Republique Française inkstamp. I: 140.5 x 92.5 cm, S: 142.5 x 95.5 cm.
Literature
Wittrock P3, Delteil 342, Adhemar, Adriani 5.
More information
This colorful poster depicts the theme of the controversial author Victor Joseph's novel "Reine de Joie" ("Queen of Joy"). The story follows a young Parisian courtesan who convinced the wealthy Jewish banker Baron de Rosenfeld to compensate her with money in exchange for her services. Rosenfeld was a fictional character but was said to be loosely based on the real Baron de Rothschild, and Jozes drew up anti-Semitic stereotypes of the 1890s that characterized Jewish bankers as greedy, dishonest and unrefined. The poster and book caused great protests from Rothschild and his friends who erased and destroyed the poster that had been set up around Paris.
Artist
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a French artist and designer born in Albi in the south of France. From a young age, he suffered from a skeletal disease that stunted his growth. He unfortunately died at the early age of 36, but despite this managed to create enough art to last an average lifetime. Toulouse-Lautrec studied in Paris under Léon Bonnat, Fernand Cormon, and René Princeteau, having horse paintings as his specialty. Similarly to Edgar Degas Toulouse-Lautrec depicted various aspects of everyday life, including racecourses, music and dance halls, and cabarets. He is most notably known for his poster art, notably the advertising posters for the Moulin Rouge cabaret, featuring cabaret artists such as Jane Avril and Aristide Bruant. His work was inspired by the Orientalist and geometric flatness seen in Japanese prints, incorporating bold black lines and sweeping diagonals. Toulouse-Lautrec was one of the most important and innovative poster artists of his time, known for his exceptional use of color and dynamic compositions.
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