The Explorer Vicomte de Brettes (L'explorateur L.J. Vicomte de Brettes?) Possibly 1898 - 1911

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this drawing of The Explorer Vicomte de Brettes, and it looks like he’s used some kind of stylus or pen, to create thin dark lines. It feels immediate, like it was done in one sitting, a snapshot in time. I love the way that even though it's just a sketch, you can still see the character of the person. The contour of the face, the hat, the little details—they all add up to something really specific. It’s amazing how much information can be conveyed with just a few lines. Notice the way he's used short, choppy strokes to create texture and shadow. Look at that line of dashes under his chin; it gives a sense of depth and volume to the form, even though it's essentially just a flat, linear drawing. For me, this piece resonates with the work of artists like Daumier, who also captured the essence of everyday life with incredible sensitivity and wit. There’s an open invitation here, to see things from a different angle, to see the world with fresh eyes.