A Saint-Lazare par Aristide Bruant

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's "A Saint-Lazare par Aristide Bruant" is an early work from 1882, created when the artist was around 18 years old. While not as widely recognized as his later, more decadent portrayals of Parisian nightlife, this lithograph offers a glimpse into the emerging talent of an artist who would become synonymous with Post-Impressionism and the vibrant, often raw, energy of late 19th-century Paris. Toulouse-Lautrec, a master printmaker, draughtsman, and illustrator, was known for his immersive approach to life, producing popular works that captured the theatricality and colorful affairs of his time. This piece, though created before his iconic works like "At the Moulin Rouge" or "Equestrienne (At the Cirque Fernando)," likely showcases his early interest in capturing figures and perhaps the urban environment, a theme he would continuously explore throughout his career. It serves as a foundational example of his developing style and his eventual mastery of the lithographic medium.