Artwork

Country Outing (Partie de campagne)

Country Outing (Partie de campagne), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1897
Country Outing (Partie de campagne), by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, ink, 1897

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

Portrait of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.