Mlle Lucie Bellanger 1896

This portrait of Mlle Lucie Bellanger was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec; a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, and caricaturist who was immersed in the Bohemian culture of late 19th-century Paris. Toulouse-Lautrec was known for his depictions of Parisian nightlife, particularly his paintings of performers, dancers, and prostitutes. In this image, the sitter is captured in a moment of repose; her gaze averted, her posture relaxed. Toulouse-Lautrec does not sentimentalize or romanticize Lucie; rather, he captures the individuality and humanity of this working-class woman. Her partial nudity challenges traditional, objectifying representations of women by imbuing her with a sense of agency. Her vulnerability and sense of self possession evoke a sense of intimacy and connection, inviting the viewer to consider the complex interplay of identity, class, and representation in Parisian society during the Belle Époque.