Mademoiselle Pois Vert - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

A minimalist lithograph portrait by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, capturing the subtle expression of Mademoiselle Pois Vert with delicate, calligraphic lines.

This lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec depicts a woman known as Mademoiselle Pois Vert, a figure associated with the Parisian nightlife of the 1890s. The artist captures the subject in profile, focusing on the delicate contours of her face and the distinct dark choker that frames her neck. Toulouse-Lautrec employs a minimalist approach, using sparse, calligraphic lines to define the features while leaving much of the paper surface untouched. This economy of mark-making allows the viewer to focus on the subject's expression and posture.

The work reflects the artist's interest in the inhabitants of Montmartre, where he frequently observed and documented the performers, dancers, and patrons of the cabarets. Unlike his more elaborate posters, this print functions as a quiet study of character. The composition is balanced by the inclusion of the artist's monogram stamp, which appears in the lower section of the print, a common feature in his limited edition lithographs. The soft, greyish tones of the ink against the cream-coloured paper provide a subtle contrast, typical of the printmaking techniques he refined during this period.

By stripping away background detail, Toulouse-Lautrec directs attention to the psychological presence of the sitter. The work demonstrates his ability to convey personality through a few well-placed strokes. It remains a representative example of his graphic output, which often prioritised the immediacy of the sketch over formal portraiture conventions. The print offers a glimpse into the social circles of late nineteenth-century Paris, captured with the artist's characteristic observational precision.