Luce Myres in Profile (Luce Myrès, de profil)

Luce Myres in Profile (Luce Myrès, de profil) is a significant example of French printmaking created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895. This distinctive lithograph, executed using a monochromatic olive green ink, captures the refined atmosphere and emphasis on character observation characteristic of the late 19th-century Parisian artistic scene. Categorized specifically as a print, the medium was central to Toulouse-Lautrec’s career, allowing him to disseminate his portrayals of modern life quickly and widely to both commercial and fine art audiences.

Produced toward the end of the pivotal period spanning 1876 to 1900, the work demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec's characteristic economy of line and masterful application of simplified forms. The artist specialized in capturing figures from the Parisian nightlife and theatrical spheres, often conveying character and emotional intensity through stark simplification, a technique influenced heavily by Japanese woodblock prints. Luce Myres in Profile isolates its subject, rendering her in a pure, striking profile that highlights the elegant contours of her face and the precise arrangement of her hair. The deliberate restriction to a single color, olive green, lends the portrait an intimate, muted quality, distinguishing it from the artist's more flamboyant poster lithographs.

As a key figure in Post-Impressionism, Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the status of the print medium from commercial reproduction to serious fine art. This specific print reflects prevailing French artistic interests of the fin de siècle, characterized by a deep fascination with subtle psychological observation and the formal possibilities of graphic media. The work resides within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., preserving this essential document of turn-of-the-century portraiture. As an important example of the prints created during this era, high-resolution images of this work are sometimes made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring the broad study and appreciation of Toulouse-Lautrec’s profound artistic legacy.