Description
This lithographic reprint of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s “Le Secret,” published in 1935 by H. Lefebvre, reproduces a design originally created as a cover for sheet music composed by Désiré Dihau. The composition presents a quiet interior scene, with a seated female figure rendered in delicate, economical line, accompanied by sparse furnishings including a table, chair, and globe.
Unlike the original 1890s music sheet covers, which were functional and printed with musical notation on the verso, this Lefebvre edition was issued as a standalone print in black ink on wove paper. The margins and presentation reflect its purpose as a collected graphic work rather than a utilitarian object.
Part of a series of song illustrations created for Dihau, the image reflects Lautrec’s close association with performers and musicians, as well as his ability to convey atmosphere through minimal means. The restrained composition stands apart from his more theatrical posters, offering a more intimate and observational approach.
This example, from the 1935 Lefebvre printing, preserves the clarity of the original design while situating it within the early twentieth-century revival of Lautrec’s graphic work.
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