The artwork titled “The Falconer, Comte Alphonse de Toulouse Lautrec” is a work by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1881. This genre painting is executed in oil on board and is associated with the Impressionist movement. The piece is currently held in the Musee Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi, France, where it contributes to the rich tapestry of 19th-century French art.
The artwork depicts a solitary figure mounted on a rearing horse. The person, presumed to be the Comte Alphonse de Toulouse Lautrec, is holding aloft a falcon, preparing it for release or demonstrating its prowess. The brushwork is loose and expressive, characteristic of the Impressionist style, which sought to capture the fleeting effects of light and movement. The background is rendered in soft, atmospheric tones, giving the impression of a transient moment caught in time. The palette consists of earthy hues juxtaposed with hints of a soft, ambient sky, suggesting either early morning or late afternoon. There is a sense of dynamic motion communicated by the rearing horse and the positioning of the falconer, imbuing the work with a spirited energy.
