The artwork titled “At the circus, horse and monkey dressage” was created by the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the year 1899. It is an exemplar of the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. This genre painting is modest in size, with dimensions measuring 35.5 x 25 cm. The piece captures a vibrant scene likely witnessed at a circus performance.
In the artwork, we observe a scene filled with a sense of whimsical movement and entertainment. It features a central figure dressed as a clown, complete with a costume of vertical stripes and a ruff around the neck. With makeup highlighting the eyes and mouth, the clown projects a jovial disposition while standing next to a horse. The horse itself appears to have a small monkey perched upon its back, and both animals are shown participating in some form of dressage or performance.
The background of the artwork consists of faint, curved lines suggesting the interior of a circus tent, giving a sense of space and performance area. The color palette is muted with a few bright accents such as the clown’s red mouth, which stands out vividly against the softer tones of the costume and the animals. Toulouse-Lautrec’s style captures the moment with a fluidity that is representative of his contribution to the Art Nouveau movement, focusing on the expression of movement and the candid nature of the circus environment.
