Artwork
Country Outing (Partie de campagne)

Country Outing (Partie de campagne) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Country Outing (Partie de campagne), a 1897 color lithograph on wove paper by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, captures a moment of leisure in a rural setting. Characteristic of the artist's focus on everyday life, the work contrasts with his more common depictions of Parisian nightlife.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph portrays a carriage, its bright yellow hue standing out as it navigates a winding road. Two figures, obscured by facing away, are dressed in attire that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape of green fields, pale sky, and faintly outlined trees and hills. The scene conveys a sense of casual, everyday activity.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the piece features rough, sketchy strokes that impart a sense of movement, akin to a spontaneous snapshot. This graphic approach, emphasizing loose lines, aligns with Toulouse-Lautrec's engagement with contemporary urban culture, yet here applied to a rural motif.
History & Provenance
Created in 1897 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, an artist of French aristocratic lineage whose physical development was impacted by adolescent leg injuries. Despite his association with Parisian nightlife themes, this work showcases his versatility in capturing leisurely pursuits in a different context.
Context
Reflecting the everyday aesthetics of its time, Country Outing aligns with the late 19th-century artistic interest in depicting modern life. Toulouse-Lautrec's use of lithography also highlights the medium's popularity for mass-producing artworks that reflected contemporary culture.
Legacy
While Country Outing may not epitomize Toulouse-Lautrec's nocturnal Parisian scenes, it contributes to the broader understanding of his artistic range and his ability to capture the essence of everyday moments across different settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.



















