Monsieur Louis Pascal 1891

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this painting of Monsieur Louis Pascal using oil on cardboard, but its meaning can be found in its depiction of class in late 19th century France. Lautrec portrays Pascal as a man of leisure, with his top hat, cigar, and cane, all symbols of bourgeois status. But look closer, and you’ll see a sense of unease. The setting is ambiguous, the colors muted, and Pascal himself appears to be caught between two worlds. Lautrec, himself an aristocrat, was fascinated by the social dynamics of Parisian society. His work often blurred the lines between high and low culture. Was this portrait intended as a celebration or a critique of the bourgeoisie? To answer that, we need to examine sources from the period, from fashion magazines to social commentaries, allowing us to understand the complex ways in which class was performed and perceived. Art is always rooted in its time and place.