En Quarante. In Their Forties. by Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec, 1864-1901

Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec, 1864-1901
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En Quarante. In Their Forties.

Original lithograph in black ink. 1893. Signed with Lautrec's red monogram stamp. Numbered '33' in pencil (from the edition of 100). Signed with the artist's monogram in the stone. Commissioned by Darien for L'Escaramouche. Drawn and printed at the studio of Ancourt, Paris 1893. Issued by Kleinmann, Paris 1893.
Ref: Wittrock - T-Lautrec Prints 32. Adriani 47. Delteil 42.

Provenance: French Private collection. Purchased in the 1920's.

Extremely fine impression in the rare black ink (see notes below). On pale cream smooth wove paper. Extremely fine original unrestored condition. The full sheet. Drawn almost to full sheet size, as issued. Sheet: 15 1/8 x 11ins. (384x280mm)

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This impression of ?En Quarante? was originally purchased in the first decade of the century for a private collection in France. It remained in that collection, unframed and stored in a portfolio, until last year. As a result it is in exceptional untouched original condition.

?En Quarante? is one of the greatest examples of Lautrec?s unique genius as a draughtsman in the medium of lithography. The combination of wit and extremely acute social observation, in which every tiny curl and squiggle of the line has a telling purpose and effect, shows his art at the peak of its inspiration.

Issued in an edition of 100 impressions this example is one of just 50 printed in the stronger black ink (the remainder of the edition was in olive green ink). At the end of 1893 Lautrec was commissioned to make a series of 12 compositions for the illustrated weekly ?L?Escaramouche?. The works were to be reproduced in the magazine but drawn in lithography and issued in separate ?collector?s editions? of 100 impressions. The series of compositions for ?L?Escaramouche? marks a moment of supreme achievement n Lautrec?s graphic oeuvre.