The artwork “Portrait of Cipa Godebsky” was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. It is a post-impressionist portrait executed on cardboard and measures 57 x 45 cm. This piece is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
The portrait depicts Cipa Godebsky, a figure shown in three-quarter profile, occupying a substantial portion of the composition. The subject’s facial expression carries a smirk, suggesting a moment captured in casual familiarity. He holds what appears to be a smoking pipe in his right hand, conveying an air of nonchalance. Toulouse-Lautrec’s use of vivid and expressive brushstrokes imbues the portrait with energy and character, reflecting the post-impressionist movement’s emphasis on personal interpretation and emotional resonance over realistic depiction. The background consists of an abstracted array of colors and shapes that complement the subject’s presence, while not detracting from the focal point of the artwork. The artist’s palette is predominantly made up of cool hues, giving a textured and dynamic backdrop to the portrait.
