Alone (Elles) 1896

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this painting, Alone, using oil on cardboard. Look closely, and you'll see the raw material showing through, with the thinnest veil of paint. You can see the cardboard's texture, which seems to have been deliberately exploited. Notice how the paint is applied in very thin washes and quick, almost scribbled lines? Toulouse-Lautrec seems to have been in a hurry, or perhaps he wanted to capture a fleeting moment. This immediacy is part of the appeal. The painting feels very modern, even though it was made in the late 19th century. Toulouse-Lautrec was interested in capturing real life, and here, that meant showing a woman in a private moment. The material handling, in this case, is everything. It gives us a sense of intimacy with both the artist and his subject. By focusing on this kind of work, we can really appreciate how much an artist's process contributes to the final result.