Henri Gabriel Ibels 1893

This portrait of Henri Gabriel Ibels was made by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a leading figure in the Parisian art scene of the late 19th century. Toulouse-Lautrec, born into aristocracy but an outsider due to physical disabilities, found kinship with others on the margins of society. Ibels, who was nicknamed "Nabi journalist," and Toulouse-Lautrec were both part of the artistic group Les Nabis, who were interested in Japanese art and abstraction. This portrait, made with pastel on cardboard, gives us a sense of Ibels's character as an artist and social commentator of the time. Toulouse-Lautrec’s art often depicted the working class and marginalized communities of Montmartre, capturing the energy of cabaret culture. The sketch-like quality of this portrait mirrors the changing, gritty nature of Paris and the lives of those who occupied it. It's an intimate portrayal of a friend, but also an insight into a society undergoing rapid change.