Les Vieilles Histoires, Sagesse 1893

Editor: So, here we have 'Les Vieilles Histoires, Sagesse' by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1893. It’s a lithograph, likely a poster. There's almost a comedic tension with this pairing… almost unsettling. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This piece tells us a lot about the burgeoning entertainment industry and café society in late 19th century Paris. It's essentially advertising, right? Posters were plastered everywhere, vying for attention. This image, used to promote a songbook, employs Lautrec's signature caricature style to capture a sense of knowing indulgence. What do you notice about the man’s gaze? Editor: He seems to be looking directly at the viewer… there’s a confrontational aspect, maybe even a challenge. It is like he is bringing the viewer in on the joke? Curator: Precisely. Consider the context: Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge. Lautrec was embedded in that world. His posters weren't just ads, they were social commentary. How does the title "Old Stories, Wisdom" play into this image, given that society? Does the image show wisdom, foolishness, both? Editor: I hadn't thought about the 'wisdom' aspect as perhaps sarcastic or ironic. So it's both promoting a product and offering a cynical perspective on the era. Almost critiquing Parisian society at the same time, through its characters and imagery? Curator: Exactly. Art exists in a marketplace of ideas and commerce, especially printed media at this time. Lautrec's poster functions within that complex space. The work isn't merely an ad. It actively participates in shaping perceptions and values of that period. Editor: It is quite fascinating to see that his poster isn't just commercial, it is offering social commentary on Paris's café society. Curator: Indeed, seeing art in this context broadens the way one can study visual culture.