The Redhead with a White Blouse 1888

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created 'The Redhead with a White Blouse’ with oil on cardboard. The composition centers on a seated woman, her gaze direct and contemplative, set against a backdrop of indistinct room details. Lautrec's use of color creates a visually striking yet somber mood. The redhead's fiery hair contrasts with the stark white of her blouse and the dark skirt, drawing our eye to her face. The background, a medley of soft browns and muted blues, hints at an interior space filled with other artworks, all rendered in a sketchy, almost unfinished manner. The brushwork throughout the piece is loose and expressive. Short, broken strokes of paint build up the forms, creating a sense of texture. The painting challenges traditional portraiture by focusing on the sitter's psychological state rather than physical perfection. The composition, color, and brushwork work together to create an image that speaks to the transient and subjective nature of human experience.