Artwork
Mademoiselle Nys

Mademoiselle Nys is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1900, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's Mademoiselle Nys is a portrait depicting a woman identified by the title as the subject Nys.
Created in 1900, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's Mademoiselle Nys is a portrait depicting a woman identified by the title as the subject Nys. As a work of the portrait genre, the painting focuses on the representation of this specific female figure. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the piece as a portrait of a woman, emphasizing the direct depiction of the sitter rather than complex allegorical narratives.
The work serves as a straightforward visual record of the individual, capturing her likeness within the small-scale format typical of Lautrec's intimate studies from the turn of the century.
History & Provenance
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's portrait Mademoiselle Nys was created in 1900 and measures 27 by 21.9 centimeters. The work is classified as a painting within the portrait genre and depicts a woman. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of their permanent holdings.
While the specific commission details and initial ownership chain are not recorded in the available documentation, the piece serves as a representative example of Lautrec's portraiture from the final years of his life.
Overview
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's Mademoiselle Nys, painted in 1900, is a Post-Impressionist portrait. This work captures a female subject with a distinctive, sketchy quality, characteristic of the artist's later style. The painting is currently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a specific facet of Toulouse-Lautrec's extensive oeuvre.
Technique & Style
Toulouse-Lautrec employed a notably sketchy technique in Mademoiselle Nys, visible in the energetic brushstrokes and textured surface of the warm, golden background. The subject's face is rendered with softer, more delicate lines, creating a contrast with the broader application elsewhere. This approach emphasizes the artist's hand and aligns with the expressive qualities of Post-Impressionism.
Context
Born into an aristocratic French family in 1864, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec gained renown for his depictions of Parisian nightlife and its diverse figures. Despite physical challenges, his art vividly captured the energy of the city's social scenes. Mademoiselle Nys offers a more subdued and personal moment, diverging from his more public and bustling compositions of cabarets and dance halls.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.


















