Artwork
Lender from the Back Dancing the Bolero in "Chilperic" (Lender de dos, dansant le boléro dans "Chilpéric")
Lender from the Back Dancing the Bolero in "Chilperic" (Lender de dos, dansant le boléro dans "Chilpéric") 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
This 1895 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captures a moment from the operetta *Chilperic*, depicting Marcelle Lender performing a bolero from behind, set against a minimalist stage backdrop, rendered in a distinctive olive green ink.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Marcelle Lender, is portrayed in the act of dancing, her posture suggesting engagement with an unseen partner. The focus on a performer from behind may reflect Toulouse-Lautrec's outsider perspective, emphasizing the spectacle over individual identity.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, this work utilizes a stone-drawn process, characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec's printmaking technique. The olive green ink imparts a soft, unified glow, while the sparse stage details typify his concise, theatrical compositions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1895, this lithograph is part of Toulouse-Lautrec's body of work documenting Paris's late 19th-century entertainment scene. The artist's experiences, including his physical condition, influenced his fascination with nightlife and performers.
Context
This work is situated within Toulouse-Lautrec's broader exploration of Parisian nightlife and theatrical culture. It reflects the era's popular entertainment, with the operetta *Chilperic* being a contemporary reference point.
Legacy
As part of Toulouse-Lautrec's oeuvre, this lithograph contributes to his legacy as a chronicler of late 19th-century Parisian life, particularly in capturing the essence of performance and nightlife through his distinctive printmaking style.
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.
