The artwork titled “Skating Professional Beauty Mlle Liane de Lancy at the Palais de Glace” is a sketch and study by the renowned artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Created in the year 1896, this piece was executed in ink and is indicative of the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. The artwork measures 61 x 47 cm and is presently housed within the collection of the Musee Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi, France.
The artwork captures the likeness of Mlle Liane de Lancy, a recognized figure skating professional of the period. As evident in the work, Toulouse-Lautrec focused on the fluidity of line and form, typical hallmarks of Art Nouveau, to convey movement and poise. The artwork depicts Mlle de Lancy in an expressive pose against a minimalistic background, effectively highlighting her figure and attire. There is a sense of motion and liveliness to the subject, as well as a suggestion of interaction between the figures present within the sketch. Toulouse-Lautrec’s masterful use of ink allows him to capture both subtlety and dynamism, creating a sketch that is both a study of form and a snapshot of the social and leisurely culture of the time.
