The artwork titled “Yahne et Antoine, dans l’âge difficile” was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec around the year 1895. Exhibiting characteristics of the Post-Impressionism movement, this piece falls into the genre of sketch and study. Currently, it is housed in the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, NY, United States.
The artwork portrays two figures, one seen more fully realized and the other in a more rudimentary state. The figure on the left, presumably Yahne, is depicted with a more detailed face and a noticeable hairstyle that features voluminous, curled locks. Her facial expression is distinctly captured, conveying a sense of animation or engagement. She is seated, indicated by the partial depiction of a seat beneath her and the relaxed posture. The second figure, likely Antoine, stands to the right with his back partly turned towards Yahne. He is rendered in profile, and while his outline is clear, his features are more faintly sketched, suggesting a contrast in the level of attention or focus the artist has allotted to each figure.
A table is suggested by a few sparing lines, with an object such as a violin or viola bow resting atop it, positioned near Yahne, implying a potential narrative connection between the characters and the presence of music or performance within the context of the scene. Overall, the sparse yet expressive sketch captures an intimate moment with an economy of lines, characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec’s style and the exploratory nature of Post-Impressionist artwork.
