Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s artwork titled “At the Cafe: The Customer and the Anemic Cashier” was created in 1898. This oil on cardboard painting is a significant example of the Post-Impressionism art movement. The artwork, with its dimensions of 81.5 x 60 cm, can be categorized as a genre painting. It is currently housed in the Kunsthaus Zürich, located in Zurich, Switzerland, where it adds to the rich tapestry of genre works from the period.
The artwork captures an ordinary moment within the interior of a café, depicting two figures—the customer and the cashier. The male patron, portly and seemingly content, is positioned to the left of the artwork, with his hands resting prominently on the countertop. His facial expression suggests a relaxed demeanor as he gazes out towards the observer. The woman, identified as the cashier, stands to the right, portrayed with a stance indicative of weariness or perhaps boredom. Her figure is turned away from the customer, with her attention directed towards something outside the viewer’s perspective.
The composition breathes with the characteristic vibrancy and spontaneity of Toulouse-Lautrec’s style. The use of vivid, yet somewhat muted colors, along with the loose and expressive brushwork, creates an impression that goes beyond the mere depiction of a scene, conveying the ambiance and the psychological nuances of the subjects. One can note the nuanced interplay of light and shadow, as well as the textures that suggest a bustling, yet transient, environment of the café. The scene is everyday and unremarkable, yet through the artist’s lens, it becomes a subject worthy of artistic exploration, reflecting the social dynamics and human conditions of the era.
