For the first time, the Cincinnati Art Museum will display its entire collection of forty-three prints and eight posters by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, including the poster Cyclist Michael, which went through extensive conservation in order to be included in Toulouse-Lautrec and the Spectacles of Paris. Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) came to artistic maturity as color lithography was gaining acceptance and posters were transforming the streets of Paris into outdoor art exhibitions. “Toulouse-Lautrec was a talented draftsman. Between 1891 and 1901 lithographic printmaking became central to his artistic output. His lithographs done directly on stone with crayon reflect his talent at capturing the essence of performers through their gestures and social persona on and off stage with humor,” says Kristin Spangenberg, Curator of Prints at the museum. “He was one of the artists who raised the profile of the medium for artistic purposes as well as commercial purposes.”
Visitors will recognize great posters such as Aristide Bruant in His Cabaret; Jane Avril; La Revue Blanche; and At the Concert, the last of which is of particular interest since he created the poster for the Cincinnati firm of Ault & Wiborg Co. The exhibit will be open October 13 through January 13.
Urban Art & Antiques 