Woman in a Black Hat, Berthe la Sourde 1890

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painted “Woman in a Black Hat” in the 1880s or 90s, capturing the likeness of Berthe la Sourde in oil on cardboard. Lautrec was working in a Paris that was undergoing massive cultural change. The expansion of print media created a culture of celebrity, and new exhibition venues gave artists more power over their careers. Lautrec gained recognition for his graphic works advertising Parisian nightlife. In paintings like this one, he brought the same sensibility to portraiture. The sitter’s direct gaze and contemporary dress create a sense of immediacy. Lautrec’s loose brushstrokes and visible cardboard background defy the conventions of academic painting. This casual style suggests a modern sensibility that challenged the art establishment. To understand this portrait better, one might consider the social status of Lautrec’s models. Were they actors, dancers, or members of the Parisian demimonde? The artist’s biography and the history of exhibition practices are just two lines of inquiry that might deepen our understanding of this painting.