Di Ti Fellow - Englishmen at the Cafe-Concert (Di Ti Fellow - Anglaise au Café-Concert) 1898

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created "Di Ti Fellow - Englishmen at the Cafe-Concert" using a lithographic crayon and spatter. The print presents a snapshot of Parisian nightlife with dynamic strokes. The formal elements create an asymmetrical composition, drawing our eyes from the smoking man at the bottom to the woman in the center. The stark contrasts between the figures create both physical and psychological distance, and the texture, achieved through lithography, adds depth. Lautrec destabilizes conventional portraiture by emphasizing the unique features and expressions of his subjects. He uses line and form to capture the fleeting moments, reflecting the artist's semiotic exploration of modernity and its social dynamics. Through his innovative method, Lautrec not only captures the likeness of his subjects but also conveys a sense of alienation that challenges traditional values and expectations. The artwork becomes a comment on the transient nature of identity and the shifting cultural values in Paris.