The artwork entitled “A Day Out” was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the year 1893. This piece is rendered in oil on board and is a demonstration of the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement, classified under the genre of sketch and study. Currently, the artwork resides within a private collection.
The artwork presents a figure captured from behind, rendered with a sense of immediacy that suggests a snapshot of everyday life, typical of study sketches. The subject appears to be a woman, based on the outline of her clothing and the long, flowing hair or garment that cascades down her back in deep blue hues. The use of oil paint on board allows for both fluidity and texture, with the brushstrokes clearly visible, providing a sense of movement and life to the artwork. There is minimal background detail, which places emphasis on the subject, and the unfinished nature of the sketch offers a glimpse into the artist’s process and the spontaneity of the moment. The apparel and accessory that the figure dons—a hat—along with the posture, reflect a bygone era, resonating with the historical context of the period in which Toulouse-Lautrec worked.
