Caudieux 1893

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created this lithograph, ‘Caudieux,’ using a greasy crayon on a stone matrix. Unlike traditional drawing, lithography relies on the chemical repulsion between grease and water, a technique Lautrec masterfully exploited. The dense, velvety blacks and textured grays you see weren't achieved with traditional hatching, but by varying pressure and the amount of crayon applied to the stone. This allowed Lautrec to capture the robust figure of Caudieux with remarkable immediacy, almost as if he sketched directly from life. The process, though indirect, imbues the print with a sense of spontaneity. Lithography, as a printmaking technique, allowed for multiples, making art more accessible and democratic. Lautrec embraced this aspect, creating posters and prints that captured the vibrant nightlife of Montmartre, bringing art out of the salon and into the streets. The resulting image is a document of popular culture and a testament to the power of accessible art.