Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) (after) - "Le Polisseur de Marbre, 1884"

- Toulouse-Lautrec (after), authorized offset lithograph on heavyweight textured matte paper (approximately 300gsm).

Plate signed.

Embossing stamp

Stamp on the verso.

Size: 33 x 39 cm.

- Condition: excellent. Never framed, never exposed.

- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901) was a French painter, draftsman, and printmaker who became one of the most distinctive voices of the Post-Impressionist movement. Despite his short life and physical disabilities resulting from congenital health issues, Lautrec revolutionized the portrayal of modern urban life in late 19th-century Paris.

Living and working in the vibrant district of Montmartre, he captured the energy and decadence of Parisian nightlife cabarets, dance halls, cafés, and brothels with unmatched psychological insight and expressive line. His works combined sharp observational realism with the decorative stylization of Japanese prints, influencing generations of modern artists.

Lautrec’s most famous works include his iconic lithographic posters for venues such as the Moulin Rouge, which not only brought him fame during his lifetime but also helped redefine the boundaries between fine art and commercial design. His portraits and paintings are celebrated for their humanity, humor, and empathy toward society’s marginalized figures.

Today, Toulouse-Lautrec’s works are highly prized in the international art market. His works often sell for tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on rarity and condition. Major paintings and oil studies command multi-million-dollar prices at leading auction houses. Collectors value his works not only for their aesthetic innovation but also for their cultural significance as visual chronicles of Belle Époque Paris.

Created when Lautrec was just twenty years old, Le Polisseur de Marbre reveals his early mastery of anatomy and form, developed through academic training before his turn toward modernist subjects. The work depicts a nude male figure kneeling and polishing a block of marble, rendered in a restrained, earthy palette of ochres and muted tones. The study is notable for its intense realism and physicality—every muscle is carefully modeled, yet the composition avoids idealization, focusing instead on the raw effort and tension of manual labor.

This early work provides a fascinating glimpse into Lautrec’s formative years, showcasing his technical discipline and psychological depth long before his later fame in Montmartre.

Artists of similar importance: Picasso, Hockney, Lichtenstein, Warhol, Banksy, Brainwash, Delaunay, Nara, Soulages, Lagasse, Ramos, Coa, Basquiat, Hirst, Chagall, Koons, Haring, Indiana, Mondrian, Groening, Richter, Monroe, Herrera, Laurent, Klein, Kusama, Murakami, Testa, Villemot, Oldenburg, Hopper, Ripolles, Wesselmann, Magritte, Jenk, Orlinski, Wille, Rizzi, Manara, Thiebaud, Kaws, Valentino, Cappiello, Rothko, Dalí, among others.