Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Artwork Value
What's my Toulouse-Lautrec artwork worth?
Get a free valuation from photos. Learn how to spot originals vs restrikes, typical price ranges, and the best way to sell Toulouse-Lautrec works.
At-a-glance: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Bio
Name: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Years: 1864–1901
Nationality: French
Style
Post-Impressionist master who revolutionized commercial poster art. Combined Japanese woodblock influences with Parisian cabaret subjects in bold, flat color compositions.
What to look for
Printer marks in margins (Imp. Chaix, Ancourt, Verneau), period paper, HTL monogram printed in stone, and red estate stamp (TL) on works from studio inventory.
Types of Toulouse-Lautrec works and their values
Lautrec's market spans accessible restrikes to museum-caliber paintings. Understanding originals vs prints is critical since most Lautrec items encountered are posthumous printings, not lifetime impressions.
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Modern reproductions
Photomechanical reproductions of Lautrec's famous posters are everywhere—museum shops, decorators, and online sellers. These show dot patterns under magnification and have no collectible value ($50–$500 decorative only). Check under a loupe before assuming you have something valuable.
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Posthumous restrikes (1920s–1950s)
After Lautrec's death, printers made new impressions from the original lithographic stones. These are authentic Lautrec designs but printed decades later on different paper. Values range from $1,000–$10,000 depending on the image and condition—a fraction of lifetime impressions.
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Album lithographs and smaller prints
Smaller lithographs from portfolios like "Elles" (1896), theater programs, menu designs, and book illustrations offer more accessible entry points. Original lifetime impressions with strong colors sell for $5,000–$50,000. Later impressions trade lower.
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Cabaret and theater posters (originals)
Lesser-known theatrical subjects, café-concerts, and literary advertisements in original lifetime impressions with good margins sell for $30,000–$150,000. Condition matters enormously—these were designed to be pasted and discarded.
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Iconic large posters (originals)
"Moulin Rouge: La Goulue" (1891), "Aristide Bruant dans son cabaret" (1893), "Jane Avril au Jardin de Paris" (1893), and "Divan Japonais" (1893) are the most sought-after. Original lifetime impressions in fine condition with full margins sell for $100,000–$500,000+.
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Paintings and drawings
Original Lautrec paintings are rare on the market—most are in museums (Musée d'Orsay, Art Institute of Chicago). When paintings appear at auction, they command $500,000–$20+ million. His auction record is $22.4M for "La blanchisseuse" (Christie's, 2005). Drawings and oil sketches also command significant prices.
Toulouse-Lautrec authentication: what you need to know
Authentication depends on the medium. Prints require catalogue verification and physical examination; paintings need committee review.
- Wittrock catalogue (prints): Wolfgang Wittrock's Toulouse-Lautrec: The Complete Prints (1985, 2 volumes) catalogues all 368 prints with detailed state information—the essential reference for lithographs and posters
- Dortu catalogue (paintings): M. G. Dortu's Toulouse-Lautrec et son oeuvre (1971, 6 volumes) covers paintings, drawings, pastels, and watercolors—inclusion is critical for unique works
- Comité Toulouse-Lautrec: The committee at Galerie Brame & Lorenceau in Paris provides opinions on authenticity and inclusion in catalogue supplements for paintings and drawings
- Printer identification: Look for "Imp. Chaix (Ateliers Chéret)," "Edw. Ancourt," "Charles Verneau," or "Auguste Clot" in the margins—authentic printer marks indicate lifetime impressions
- State determination: "Before letters" (avant la lettre) proofs lack text and are rarer; standard editions with text are more common but still valuable if lifetime impressions
- Estate stamp: The red TL monogram stamp was applied to works from Lautrec's studio after his 1901 death—it indicates provenance but not necessarily lifetime printing
For a preliminary assessment, upload photos of the image, margins, any stamps, and the verso (back).
Get Free ValuationFAQ: Toulouse-Lautrec questions answered
Original lifetime impressions (1891–1901) use period paper, show printer marks (Imp. Chaix, Ancourt, Verneau), and have saturated colors with crisp lines. Posthumous restrikes from the 1920s–1950s were printed from original stones but on different paper. Modern reproductions show dot patterns under magnification—a key way to distinguish originals from prints.
Wolfgang Wittrock's Toulouse-Lautrec: The Complete Prints (1985, 2 volumes) catalogues all 368 prints. For paintings and drawings, M. G. Dortu's Toulouse-Lautrec et son oeuvre (1971, 6 volumes) is the standard reference. Both are essential for authentication and valuation.
Yes. The Comité Toulouse-Lautrec at Galerie Brame & Lorenceau in Paris provides opinions on authenticity and inclusion in supplements to the Dortu catalogue. For prints, authentication relies primarily on the Wittrock catalogue and examination of paper, printer marks, and states.
After Lautrec's death in 1901, his estate applied a red monogram stamp (TL intertwined) to works from his studio. The stamp indicates provenance from the estate but doesn't necessarily mean lifetime printing—some stamped works are posthumous impressions from original stones.
"Moulin Rouge: La Goulue" (1891), "Aristide Bruant dans son cabaret" (1893), "Jane Avril au Jardin de Paris" (1893), and "Divan Japonais" (1893) are the most iconic. Original lifetime impressions in fine condition with full margins can sell for $100,000–$500,000 or more.
Major posters belong at Christie's, Sotheby's, or specialist poster dealers like Posteritati or Chisholm Larsson. Paintings require the major auction houses. Start with a free valuation to confirm whether you have an original impression, restrike, or reproduction before choosing a sales venue.
How to sell Toulouse-Lautrec artwork
Whether you have a poster, lithograph, or potential painting, here's the process for selling your Lautrec.
Identify state and printing
Upload clear photos of the image, margins, printer marks, and any stamps. We'll help determine whether you have an original lifetime impression, posthumous restrike, or modern reproduction—this determines whether your piece is worth $500 or $500,000.
Assess condition carefully
Lautrec posters were made to be pasted and discarded—surviving examples with full margins are exceptional. Folds, tears, trimmed margins, fading, and restoration all impact value significantly. Professional conservation reports help with serious pieces.
Choose a specialist venue
Major posters belong at Christie's, Sotheby's, or specialized poster dealers. Works on paper specialists handle album prints. Paintings require the major auction houses and often Comité authentication. We recommend the right match for your specific piece.
Present and price properly
Archival framing protects value. If your poster is linen-backed or has old tape, document this—it affects condition grade. We provide comparable sales data so you can price competitively. Inherited pieces with provenance documentation often command premiums.
Get your free Toulouse-Lautrec valuation
Upload photos of your Lautrec artwork—whether it's a famous poster, an album lithograph, or what might be an original painting. You'll receive a research-backed assessment with guidance on authenticity, value, and selling options.