Album de Marine: Sketchbook of 48 folios containing 17 watercolors and 27 black chalk and graphite sketches by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec provides a compelling look into the foundational period of the artist’s career, dating from 1879-1880. This extensive collection, classified as a drawing, features 48 sheets utilizing a diverse range of media, primarily graphite, fine watercolor washes, and the robust texture of black chalk on paper. Created while the young Toulouse-Lautrec was recuperating at his family's estate, the album reflects intense artistic dedication and rigorous self-training during his mid-teens. The entire sketchbook is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The studies within this work illustrate Toulouse-Lautrec's early preoccupation with capturing movement and character through observational drawing. The folios are filled with detailed sketches of men, often rendered in crisp profile, allowing the artist to meticulously study human contour and expression. He uses the precision of graphite for defining shape, contrasting it with the broader, atmospheric effects achieved through black chalk and the subtle color dynamics of watercolor. This varied medium approach shows the artist experimenting with techniques that would later become hallmarks of his Post-Impressionist style.
As a private exercise sketchbook, Album de Marine offers a rare glimpse into the developmental methods Toulouse-Lautrec used to refine his figure studies and composition. These formative works laid the groundwork for his celebrated depictions of Parisian nightlife. For scholars and students interested in the history of drawing, the high quality of these foundational pieces ensures their continuing relevance; consequently, prints of many studies within this collection are now widely available through public domain resources. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this significant document detailing the artist's youthful mastery of line and form.
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