Plate: TL. 12

"The Modern Artisan, was a line of luxury goods, including ceramics, jewelry, lampshades, and other objects of interior decoration, created by the designer Andre Marty...Lautrec show an artisan (the medallist Henri Nocq) standing ready to serve his client in any way she desires. The farcical scene is based on the old theme of the doctor's visit. Found in 17th century prints and paintings, and revived in 18th century French art, this mildly erotic setup features bedridden young ladies visited by lecherous doctors. Almost invariably a maid and little dog provide reactions that give away their mistress's malady as lovesickness, while the doctor treats his patient in a variety of titillating ways.

Lautrec parodies 18th century art in the rucoco style of the poster, but has replaced the traditional doctor with the modern craftsman whose worker's smock, hammer, and tool kit are variants on medical accoutrements. The stock characters of surprised maid and lap dog reveal what he is about to fix, and the wallpaper pattern of curvilinear exclamation marks both punctuates the joke and burlesques Art Nouveau decoration" (San Diego Museum of Art)

During the 1960s the renowned French printer, Mourlot Freres, printed this superb series "Les Affiches de Toulouse-Lautrec" for collectors. They are reduced lithographic versions of Lautrec's most famous works. They are truly the most beautiful printing we have been able to find in this size format.

As vintage printings of Lautrec's work, in all formats, reach high prices, this mid-century printing offers a superb alternative at a reasonable price that will only appreciate in value.