Marcelle Lender Seated

"Marcelle Lender Seated" is a significant 1895 print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. This work is executed as a crayon lithograph with scraper, printed in a refined gray-black on wove paper, and represents the only documented state of the composition. Toulouse-Lautrec was a master of fin-de-siècle graphic arts, frequently choosing lithography for its expressive capabilities, which allowed him to capture the ephemeral energy and nuanced characters of Parisian modern life.

The subject, Marcelle Lender, was a celebrated stage actress known for her performances at the Théâtre des Variétés. Toulouse-Lautrec specialized in depicting women of the entertainment world, capturing them both in the vibrant spotlight and in more intimate, reflective moments such as this seated portrait. Using the scraper technique, the artist incised subtle, sharp white lines and textures into the dark crayon matrix, lending the image a stark contrast and an atmospheric mood. This technique emphasizes the reserved posture of the actress while highlighting the textures of her clothing and surroundings.

As one of the premier printmakers of the 19th century, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithographic process to ensure the broad distribution of his images. Many of his highly detailed prints, including works similar to Marcelle Lender Seated, are now widely available through the public domain, cementing his legacy as a chronicler of the period. This particular impression of the lithograph resides in the extensive collection of prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it serves as a prime example of the artist’s unique approach to portraiture and graphic media.