Mlle. Pois Vert

Mlle. Pois Vert is a distinctive lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1895, characterizing the artist’s groundbreaking approach to graphic media during the late nineteenth century. This sophisticated example of the French master’s work was executed using a subtle, specialized green-black ink, demonstrating his technical versatility in printmaking. Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) was a pivotal figure operating within the period of 1876 to 1900, using the lithographic process to capture the energy and personalities of Parisian nightlife with immediacy and precision.

The subject matter, which translates to "Miss Green Pea," continues Toulouse-Lautrec's established focus on the performers, actors, and figures who populated the theaters and cafés of Montmartre. Though known primarily for his vibrant, large-scale posters, this work utilizes a deliberately restrained, dark palette, focusing the viewer’s attention on the psychological intensity and specific characteristics of the sitter. The composition employs stark contrasts and economical lines, hallmarks of the artist's maturity, revealing his capacity to merge observational realism with powerful graphic caricature.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s dedication to modernizing the art of prints established the medium as a serious artistic pursuit, moving it beyond mere commercial reproduction. This work stands as an exceptional record of the French fin de siècle, capturing the cultural milieu through intimate and often uncompromising portraiture. As a significant print within his oeuvre, the visual documentation this genre offers is often widely studied, with many of these late 19th century pieces now available in the public domain. This impression of Mlle. Pois Vert is preserved within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.