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
Created in 1897, *Country Outing (Partie de campagne)* is a color lithograph executed on wove paper by Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec. The image depicts a bright yellow carriage drawn by two horses along a winding road, with a passenger holding a dog on his lap and another figure leaning out of a window. The background is rendered in loose, atmospheric tones that suggest distant hills and a pale sky.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a fleeting moment of leisure travel, emphasizing motion and the casual intimacy of the occupants. By focusing on the everyday act of a countryside ride, Toulouse‑Lautrec extends his interest in contemporary social life beyond the Parisian nightlife for which he is best known, offering a glimpse of relaxed, middle‑class recreation.
Technique & Style
Executed with the lithographic process, the work relies on swift, sketch‑like lines that convey the dynamism of the scene. Flat, saturated colors—particularly the vivid yellow of the carriage—are applied without gradation, reinforcing a graphic quality. The loose handling of background forms creates a sense of depth while maintaining the immediacy of a rapid drawing.
History & Provenance
Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec, born into French aristocracy in 1864, produced this print during a prolific period when he was exploring various print media.
Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec, born into French aristocracy in 1864, produced this print during a prolific period when he was exploring various print media. Although primarily associated with depictions of Parisian cabarets and brothels, the 1897 lithograph reflects his broader engagement with the leisure activities of his time. The work remains in the collections of several European museums, illustrating its continued relevance to studies of fin‑de‑siècle printmaking.
Own this work as a print
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.
The Donkey Cart
Why the Pifflers Lost their Return Match
The Tuileries Garden (Le jardin des Tuileries)
The Knifesharpener
Cavalry Soldier (Soldato di cavalleria)
In the Woods (Au bois)
Landscape with Figures and a Carriage
Bridge
Wagon Going to Town (Le Charriot allant a la ville)
The Cab
Untitled
Country Outing (Partie de campagne)