The artwork titled “At the Circus Fernando, the rider,” created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1888, is an oil on canvas that embodies the essence of Post-Impressionism. The dimensions of the piece are 98 by 161 centimeters, and it is categorized as a genre painting. The work captures the vibrant atmosphere and character of a circus performance.
In this lively composition, the artwork illustrates an equestrienne performing at the Circus Fernando. The subject is depicted atop a horse in mid-performance, her body poised gracefully as she appears to be preparing for or completing a trick. The horse is captured in motion, with one of the ringmasters leading it by a rein. The rider is dressed in a performance costume with a voluminous skirt that fans out around her, evoking the dynamic movement of the act.
Around this central scene, Toulouse-Lautrec has skillfully rendered the onlookers who are an integral part of the circus atmosphere. The audience, composed of various figures, including well-dressed gentlemen and shadowy silhouettes, provide a sense of depth and context to the performance. The use of bold and expressive brushstrokes, coupled with the rich and nuanced color palette, is characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec’s style and the Post-Impressionist movement, which favored individual expression over the naturalist concerns of their Impressionist predecessors.
Moreover, the artwork exudes a sense of immediacy and intimacy, capturing a fleeting moment in the vibrant and transient world of the circus. This sense of immediacy is heightened by the angular perspectives and the daring, unconventional composition that Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for, inviting viewers to engage with the spectacle and the varied expressions of the figures depicted within the artwork.
