In Le Matin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec creates a masterful advertisement for the memoirs of Abbé Faure, titled Au Pied de l’Échafaud (At the Foot of the Scaffold), which was serialized in the newspaper Le Matin. Shifting away from his usual cabaret scenes, Lautrec here explores a moment of profound psychological and social tension. His revolutionary approach—characterized by radical cropping and a brutal economy of line—transforms a grim public event into a sophisticated work of Post-Impressionist art that captures the raw reality of the French justice system at the turn of the century.
The composition centers on a condemned man, his hands bound behind his back, being led toward the guillotine by a somber official. To the right, a priest and a gentleman in a top hat observe the scene, while the background is filled with the repetitive, dark silhouettes of mounted soldiers. Lautrec utilizes radical perspectives and flat, saturated color planes to create an immediate sense of dread and finality. The bold, Gothic-style typography of "Le Matin" at the top and the title "Au Pied de l’Échafaud" below are integrated with Lautrec's signature graphic balance, framing the scene with stark authority. This work is not merely a book promotion; it is a chilling and beautiful chronicle of the dramatic, dark, and unvarnished legal history of fin-de-siècle Paris.
This premium framed canvas reproduction powerfully conveys the somber mood and technical brilliance of Toulouse-Lautrec’s original. It is an exceptional statement piece for any sophisticated living space, perfectly suiting Post-Impressionist, dark academic, or historical gallery decor styles.
Art Movement: Post-Impressionism / Art Nouveau
