At the Piano Madame Juliette Pascal in the Salon of the Chateau de Malrome 1896

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captured Madame Juliette Pascal at the piano, within the walls of the Chateau de Malrome, using his distinctive blend of pastel and crayon. Toulouse-Lautrec, a man born into aristocracy yet an outsider due to physical disabilities, often depicted those on the margins of society, blurring the lines between observer and observed. Here, Madame Pascal, possibly a guest or a hired entertainer, is rendered with a focus on her inner world rather than her social standing. The Chateau itself becomes a stage for these subtle negotiations of class and identity. Through his choice of subject and his expressive style, Toulouse-Lautrec invites us to consider the complexities of social interactions and the transient nature of beauty and belonging. The artwork captures a moment of introspection, perhaps even loneliness.