Alfred la Guigne
1894 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This work is a portrait study rendered in pastel on cardboard, depicting a man in a bowler hat flanked by two women in a theatrical or cabaret setting. It captures the distinct social atmosphere of Montmartre nightlife through loose, expressive lines.
Did you know?
Alfred la Guigne was a well-known Parisian pimp and petty criminal who frequented the brothels and cabarets of Montmartre. Toulouse-Lautrec, fascinated by the gritty underside of Parisian life, often captured such marginalized characters with an empathetic, observant eye rather than moral judgment. This specific sketch demonstrates his signature ability to convey the essence of a person with just a few economical, sweeping gestures of pastel.
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Alfred la Guigne
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1894
