Luce Myres in Profile (Luce Myrès, de profil) 1895

This is a pencil drawing titled *Luce Myres in Profile* by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The drawing captures the sitter in a delicate, almost ephemeral manner, using a minimalist approach. The structure of this piece is in the simplicity of its lines. It's a study in suggestion rather than explicit detail, typical of Lautrec's approach to capturing fleeting moments. The lines are sparsely distributed, focusing on the contours of Myres’ face and the essential elements like her elaborate hairstyle and the fan she holds. The composition plays with negative space, drawing the eye to the delicate features of the sitter. Lautrec's use of line here is particularly compelling; it’s not just about depicting form but about suggesting the psychological state of the sitter. The drawing feels unfinished, perhaps intentionally so. It invites us to complete the image in our minds, making the artwork an interactive experience. The sketch destabilizes the traditional portrait by not fixing the sitter in a rigid representation, but rather offering a glimpse, a moment in time.