The artwork titled “At Star, Le Havre (Miss Dolly, English Singer)” was crafted by the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the year 1899. Utilizing tempera on panel as his medium, Toulouse-Lautrec rendered the portrait within the stylistic contours of the Art Nouveau movement, an approach known for its modern and ornamental characteristics. Although the exact whereabouts of this portrait are not publicly known, it is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork features a portrait of Miss Dolly, an English singer, depicted in a profile view. The use of tempera on panel gives the colors a distinctive vibrancy and texture. The brushstrokes are dynamic yet seem to capture a spontaneous moment of the singer’s presence. Her facial expression is depicted with a softness that suggests a sense of mirth or contentment. Attired in what appears to be performance garb, complete with a hat adorned with a decorative element, she radiates a sense of poise and confidence.
Toulouse-Lautrec’s skillful use of line and color encapsulates the atmosphere of the burgeoning entertainment industry of the time. The blue outlines and warm background hues work together to emphasize the figure, while the economy of detail in her clothing suggests movement, perhaps capturing Miss Dolly in a moment typical of her performances. The background is loosely defined, providing a sense of context but leaving the focus firmly on the subject herself. This work exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s fascination with the world of performers and the demimonde of Parisian nightlife, themes that frequently recur in his oeuvre.
