Reine de Joie by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Lithograph on Imperial Japon, 1896

Lithograph of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Reine de Joie (Queen of Pleasure), an advertisement for a novel by Victor Joze which depicted prostitution and other elements of risqué nightlife in Montmartre. While this poster was printed in multiple sizes and formats, this edition of 25 strikes on Japon paper from 1896 is the most desirable and extremely scarce edition. Japon paper allows inks to rest upon its surface rather than being absorbed by a more permeable paper stock. The rare, small format poster lithographs created at this time were printed using rich, dense, lead inks. This edition was published by Imprimerie Chaix, the printing house known for publishing the works of Belle Epoque master Jules Chéret. 

Paper measures 8 11/16 x 11 1/4 inches. Exceptional condition commensurate with age. Clean, no foxing or burning. Image pristine and will frame beautifully.This artwork is presented in archival rag mat and arrives accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Notable museum collections containing this work include: Museum of Modern Art, New York (73.1961) (large-format version), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (49.55.164) (Smaller-format edition), Princeton University Art Museum (x1964-23) (large-format version)

Notable museum collections featuring works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec include: Musée d'Orsay, Paris; Louvre Museum Database, Paris; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; Museum of Modern Art, New York City; Guggenheim Museum, New York City; Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, France; Art Institute of Chicago; Norton Simon Museum, California; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C; Hermitage Museum, Russia; and more.