Artwork

Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender (Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender, en buste)

Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender (Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender, en buste) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender is a 1895 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, executed in olive green on Japan paper. This print captures a portrait of its subject in a loose, expressive manner.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender, is depicted in a candid, informal state, with disheveled hair framing her face and shoulders. The portrayal reflects Toulouse-Lautrec's fascination with the personalities of Paris's theatrical and social circles.

Technique & Style

Characterized by quick, rough strokes and the absence of smooth shading, the lithograph embodies Toulouse-Lautrec's spontaneous drawing style. The use of lithography, involving direct drawing on a stone, suits the piece's sketchy, unfinished feel. The olive green print on yellowish Japan paper adds to its distinctive visual texture.

History & Provenance

Created in 1895, this is a proof print, indicating an early stage in the lithograph's production process. Originating from Toulouse-Lautrec's adult life, marked by his observations of Parisian nightlife, despite the physical challenges stemming from his adolescence.

Artist & collection

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.