Portrait of Berthe Bady 1897

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec likely made this portrait of Berthe Bady in the late 1800s, using oil paint thinned to the consistency of watercolor on cardboard. This was hardly a traditional approach to oil painting. The cardboard gives a coarse texture to the work and influenced the artist’s technique. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the paint is applied in quick, loose strokes, almost like drawing. This fast method suited Lautrec’s way of working, capturing fleeting moments and impressions. Consider the social context: Lautrec often depicted performers and personalities from the nightlife of Paris. Cardboard, unlike stretched canvas, was an inexpensive support, aligning with the bohemian world that Lautrec inhabited and the commercial nature of his subjects’ profession. The choice to use cardboard, combined with the swift application of paint, speaks to an art that embraced modern life in all its immediacy. Ultimately, this portrait reminds us that even the most unconventional materials can yield extraordinary results when paired with artistic vision and social understanding.