Portrait Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender

The Portrait Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1895, is a masterful example of complex color lithography. This specific impression is highly notable: a rare trial proof belonging to the fourth state of four, intended for the prestigious Pan journal edition. Toulouse-Lautrec executed this sophisticated print using a demanding combination of crayon, brush, and spatter techniques, layering eight different colors to achieve rich tonal depth and texture rarely seen in commercial prints of the era.

The subject, Marcelle Lender (born Anne-Marie Jeanne Brûlon), was a celebrated actress and dancer during the height of the Parisian Belle Époque. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently captured dynamic performers and personalities of the city’s vibrant entertainment scene. This work captures Lender’s distinct profile and elegant posture, demonstrating the artist’s keen ability to portray contemporary women with immediacy and precision. The complex multi-color printing process highlights her features, especially her profile and her famously vibrant red hair.

While many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s popular designs were ephemeral posters, this artistic print represents a specialized collaboration focused on innovation in the graphic arts. Due to its status as a trial proof, the quality and rarity of this particular impression are exceptional. This significant print by Toulouse-Lautrec is housed within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key example of late 19th-century French graphic mastery. As a major work in the history of prints, this piece is often cited and its imagery has entered the public domain, influencing graphic artists globally.