Ault and Wiborg, Ad. 105 1896

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created this advertisement for the Ault & Wiborg Company, a manufacturer of printing inks, during the late 19th century. Toulouse-Lautrec, who often depicted the vibrant nightlife of Montmartre, brings his signature style to this commercial piece. The advertisement features a woman and a man, both dressed in fashionable attire. The woman, with her elaborate hat and fur stole, exudes an air of sophistication, while the man, in his top hat and formal suit, embodies bourgeois respectability. This stylish pair, rendered with Toulouse-Lautrec’s characteristic loose and expressive brushwork, subtly conveys the idea that Ault & Wiborg's inks are synonymous with elegance and quality. Toulouse-Lautrec’s posters often blurred the lines between commercial art and fine art reflecting his own complex identity.