Man and Woman Riding through the Woods 1901

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this oil on canvas, *Man and Woman Riding through the Woods*, sometime in the late 19th century. Look at the way these figures emerge from the shadowy background. The painting feels as if it's in the process of becoming, right? I imagine Lautrec was searching for a way to capture the fleeting movements of the riders and the horses. The strokes of paint are so full of energy. You can almost feel the pulse of the horses' hooves on the ground. See how the forms are suggested rather than precisely defined? The artist is letting us fill in the gaps, engaging our imagination. And that earthy palette! Those reds and greens remind me of Courbet's forest scenes, but with a modern twist. It's like Lautrec is saying, "I'm part of this tradition, but I'm going to do it my way." Painting is always a conversation, don't you think? It is about how artists keep pushing each other forward, sideways, and every which way.