The artwork “Nice, on the Promenade des Anglais” is a genre painting by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in the year 1880. Executed in oil on board, this work exemplifies the Impressionist movement and is currently held in a private collection. The medium and the artistic style contribute to the vivid depiction of everyday life during the time period, and the genre classification suggests a focus on scenes of ordinary people and activities.
The artwork portrays a lively scene set on the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France. To the left, we see a horse-drawn carriage, painted with conspicuous red wheels, carrying two elegantly dressed women. The elaborate attire of the figures, particularly their hats, suggests a period-specific fashion sensibility often associated with leisure and affluence. A driver is seated at the front of the carriage, his posture upright and hands firmly on the reins, indicating his attentiveness to the act of steering the horses. The horses themselves are depicted in motion, conveying a sense of energy and immediacy within the scene.
To the right, there is a rider on horseback, lifting his hat in a gesture that appears to be a polite greeting or acknowledgment. The rider’s dynamic posture and the raised foreleg of the horse enhance the impression of momentary interaction between the subjects of the artwork. Overall, the setting is imbued with a brightness and fluidity characteristic of Impressionist paintings, with the brushwork and palette creating an atmosphere of outdoor leisure that was cherished during that era.
