Artwork
Carmen Gaudin
Carmen Gaudin is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The handling is fluid and economical, with delicate, calligraphic brushwork that defines Gaudin's features and costume with spare, rhythmic strokes.
The work is painted in oil on a wooden panel, a support typical of Lautrec's early portraits. The handling is fluid and economical, with delicate, calligraphic brushwork that defines Gaudin's features and costume with spare, rhythmic strokes. The composition is closely cropped, focusing attention on the sitter's expressive face and the white ruffled collar, which stands out against a muted, neutral background.
The palette is restrained, relying on earthy tones and touches of light color to convey volume and character.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1885, the portrait of Carmen Gaudin was executed by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in oil on wood. After the artist's death, the work passed to François Gauzi of Toulouse, remaining in his possession until at least 1935. By 1951 it had entered the stock of Durand-Matthiesen in Geneva, where it was exhibited that year.
It was acquired by Capt. Edward H. Molyneux in Paris by 1952. Molyneux sold the painting in 1955 to Ailsa Mellon Bruce, who bequeathed it to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1970, where it is held under accession number 1970.17.1.
Overview
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created Carmen Gaudin in 1885. This oil on wood painting is a Post-Impressionist portrait. It depicts Carmen Gaudin, a model and dancer who frequently sat for the artist.
The work offers insight into Toulouse-Lautrec's focus on individuals from the social periphery of Parisian life, rendered with a distinctive approach to color and form.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features Carmen Gaudin, a recurring figure in Toulouse-Lautrec's oeuvre. As a model and dancer, she represents the type of individual from Parisian nightlife that the artist often chose to portray. Unlike some of his more dynamic scenes, this portrait captures her in a quiet, contemplative pose, suggesting a personal connection or a moment of repose away from the public eye.
Context
Born into an aristocratic French family in 1864, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec became renowned for his candid portrayals of Parisian social life. He frequently depicted figures from the city's entertainment venues and working-class districts, often focusing on performers, prostitutes, and models. Carmen Gaudin fits within this broader interest, offering a more subdued view of an individual connected to this world.
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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.
