The artwork “Count Alphonse de Toulouse Lautrec driving a four horse hitch” is a work by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, dated to 1881. It falls under the Impressionism movement, displaying the artist’s propensity for capturing fleeting moments and movements. The genre painting measures 38.5 x 51 cm and portrays an everyday scene with an aristocratic touch, demonstrating Toulouse-Lautrec’s interest in such subjects.
In the artwork, four robust horses are depicted mid-stride, aligned side by side in pairs, pulling a carriage. The two lead horses are captured in a dynamic pose, conveying energy and movement. The horses’ harnesses and the carriage wheels are accented in striking red, contrasting with the more subdued earthy tones of the surrounding landscape. A sense of speed and fluidity is communicated through the brisk brushstrokes and blurred outlines, characteristic of the Impressionist approach to painting. Riding atop the carriage is Count Alphonse de Toulouse Lautrec, the artist’s cousin, regally seated and holding the reins with an air of confidence and composure. A second figure stands behind him, in the role of a footman or attendant. The backdrop hints at an open, rural setting, with greenery lightly sketched in the distance, completing this picturesque portrayal of 19th-century aristocratic leisure.activity.
