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HENRI DE TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (1864-1901)
72
●
CONFETTI. 1894.
21
3
/
8
x16
1
/
2
inches, 54
1
/
4
x42 cm. Bella & de Malherbe, London.
Condition A-: minor tears and slight time-staining at edges; creases in margins and image; hinged to mat
at top edge. Paper. Matted and framed.
“One would hardly think that an artist of Toulouse-Lautrec’s stature and wealth would normally apply
his talents to advertise a product as routine as confetti” (Wine Spectator 53). The explanation is that
the British brothers who owned this company were poster collectors themselves, and even “organized
poster exhibitions at the Royal Aquarium, London, in 1894 and 1896, to which they invited Lautrec”
(Adriani p. 144).
Confetti
, which was one of five of Lautrec’s posters featured in the first exhibition,
also appeared as the frontispiece in the catalogue. “The text, which is designed as part of the drawing,
forms an integral element of the composition; it fits into the overall character of the design to create
an effective advertisement without impinging in the drawing in any way. It is also one of Lautrec’s most
optimistic and joyful images, an indication of the breadth of his artistic ability” (Adriani p. 144).
Delteil 352, Adhemar 9, Adriani 101, Reims 779, Wember 763, DFP-II 834, Wine Spectator 53,
Abdy p. 82.
[40,000/60,000]