Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is an exemplary work from the artist's mature period, executed in 1895. This stunning classification, a color lithograph printed on cream wove paper, showcases 1864-1901's innovative and influential approach to printmaking technology during the height of the Parisian Belle Époque.
The subject is the celebrated actress and dancer, Marcelle Lender, known for her captivating stage presence in operettas. Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for capturing the dynamic atmosphere of fin-de-siècle France, documenting the transient world of entertainment, celebrity, and social documentation. This piece is less a formal portrait and more an immediate, expressive snapshot, utilizing the theatrical application of color and contour typical of the graphic arts movement in the 1890s. The choice of medium underscores the period's growing interest in making art accessible through high-quality prints.
The mastery of the color lithograph allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to achieve painterly effects while retaining the bold linear quality necessary for graphic arts distribution. Created during a high point of modern design in France, the vibrant inks and dynamic compositional cropping distinguish this work among the most recognizable prints of the decade. This specific example of Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a cornerstone of the museum's significant holdings of graphic arts from the 19th century. High-quality reproductions of this lithograph are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring continued access to this crucial image of Parisian cultural history.
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