Lady with a Dog

"Lady with a Dog" is a painting created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1891. Executed rapidly in oil on cardboard, this work exemplifies the artist's characteristic fluid brushwork and intimate, snapshot-like compositions. Toulouse-Lautrec often utilized cardboard for its absorbent surface, which allowed for quick drying and matte finishes, aligning with the immediacy he sought when capturing models in casual settings.

The piece dates from the pivotal artistic period between 1876 and 1900, reflecting the unique cultural landscape of the French fin de siècle Parisian life. The subject, whose identity is not formally confirmed, is depicted in an intimate interior setting, resting comfortably on a sofa with a small white dog nestled in her lap. The subdued palette and informal pose suggest a moment captured from private life rather than a staged formal portrait. Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for his ability to observe and record the subtle social dynamics and fleeting psychological states of his sitters, often favoring a naturalistic approach that emphasized character over idealization.

As a key example of Post-Impressionist painting, this work showcases Toulouse-Lautrec’s dedication to innovative artistic methods and his focus on candid, often marginalized figures of the day. His unconventional choice of supports and his decisive, economical handling of paint set him apart from many of his contemporaries. This painting resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it is preserved as an important artifact of late nineteenth-century artistic practice. Like many significant works from this prolific era, high-quality prints and reproductions are frequently made available through various public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to the artist's influential output.