Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender

The "Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender" by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a masterful example of late 19th-century printmaking. Created in 1895, this color lithograph on cream wove paper captures the celebrated Parisian actress and dancer, Marcelle Lender, an essential personality in the vibrant theater and cabaret culture of fin-de-siècle France. The classification of this work as a print underscores Lautrec’s pivotal role in elevating graphic arts and poster design to the status of fine art.

Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the performers and personalities who defined the dynamic nightlife of Montmartre. This specific piece focuses intensely on Lender’s distinct features and flamboyant stage persona, utilizing the economical yet expressive potential of the lithographic medium. The composition demonstrates the artist's innovative approach to color, employing broad, suggestive areas of tone and bold outlines that reflect the contemporary movement toward simplified graphic forms.

As a central figure in the printmaking revival, Lautrec helped democratize art, making high-quality images accessible to a wider public beyond traditional gallery settings. His keen eye for character and movement resulted in prints that are both highly stylized and profoundly psychological. The expressive quality of the rendering solidified Toulouse-Lautrec’s reputation as one of the great observers of human life in France. This significant work is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, and high-resolution images are often available through public domain resources, ensuring continued study and appreciation of this influential work.