Woman Standing in Semi Profile 1883

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this drawing of a woman with charcoal on paper. The smudged lines and powdery residue of the charcoal is evident, and the quick, sketchy quality of the medium lends itself to capturing a sense of movement and immediacy. Toulouse-Lautrec's choice of charcoal, a humble material, contrasts with the academic tradition of highly finished drawings intended to showcase technical skill. Instead, he embraces the raw, expressive potential of the medium. This approach aligns with Toulouse-Lautrec's interest in depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people, particularly those on the margins of society. Charcoal's accessibility and affordability made it a practical choice for an artist documenting the working class in rapidly changing Paris. In foregrounding the process of making, Toulouse-Lautrec challenges traditional notions of artistic skill and beauty, elevating the status of both his subject and his medium.