Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) Confetti.... Lot 260

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) Confetti. Poster. 1894. Lithograph. 390 x 560 [447 x 570]. Delteil 352; Wittrock P13. Printed in color. Very fine, fresh proof on thin ivory-glazed vellum. Full margins. Dry stamp: Ed. Kleinmann (Lugt 1573). CR} The poster was commissioned by English paper confetti manufacturers, J. and E. Bella in London. They organized poster exhibitions in London in 1895 and 1896, to which Lautrec was invited. The subject depicts a little girl running from a shower of confetti in the spirit of carnival. The worldwide launch of confetti took place at the Paris Carnival in December 1891. In the past, confetti was used at carnival in far greater quantities than today. Paper confetti was commonly sold by the kilogram. The Prefecture of Police soon prohibited their use, and they were only used privately. Lautrec did, however, attend a redoubt at the Casino de Paris, where they reappeared.