Artwork
Old Horse (Le vieux cheval)
Old Horse (Le vieux cheval) 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
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec produced the lithograph *Le vieux cheval* in 1897. Executed on wove paper, the work presents a close-up of an aged horse’s head and neck, rendered in a sketch‑like manner. It functions as a study rather than a finished composition, emphasizing the animal’s weathered features through economical line work.
Subject & Meaning
The image isolates the horse’s face, drawing attention to the deep folds of skin and the weary expression in its eyes. By focusing on the creature’s age and resilience, the print reflects Toulouse-Lautrec’s broader interest in portraying figures on the margins of society, using the animal as a subtle symbol of endurance.
Technique & Style
Created with lithographic processes on smooth wove paper, the piece relies on swift, gestural strokes that retain a sense of immediacy. The lines are both loose and deliberate, capturing texture and form without elaborate shading. Background details are minimal, limited to faint marks that suggest depth without detracting from the central study.
History & Provenance
Its provenance traces back to the artist’s own studio inventory, later entering public collections focused on his graphic oeuvre.
Toulouse-Lautrec, an aristocrat turned chronicler of Parisian nightlife, produced this work during a period when he frequently explored printmaking alongside painting and drawing. While the lithograph was not intended for exhibition, it exemplifies his practice of producing preparatory studies. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s own studio inventory, later entering public collections focused on his graphic oeuvre.
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.
