At Star , Le Havre (Miss Dolly, English Singer) 1899

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec sketched "At Star, Le Havre (Miss Dolly, English Singer)" in an unknown year, using crayon and gouache. The swift, sinuous lines and contrasting colors immediately grab your attention. Notice how the bold blues and yellows create a vibrant yet delicate balance, defining form and space with an economy of means. Lautrec uses line to convey both the physical appearance and the essence of Miss Dolly. Her hat, with its sharp angles, is contrasted by the soft, rounded forms of her face and hair. The sweeping lines of her dress suggest movement and presence, despite their simplicity. The choice of gouache, with its opaque quality, enriches the texture and visual impact. Ultimately, Lautrec masterfully uses formal elements not just to depict, but to express. The interplay of line and color in "At Star, Le Havre" challenges traditional portraiture, inviting us to see beyond mere representation into a dynamic interplay of form and feeling.