Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Around 1892
Oil paint and pastel on board
137.2 x 102 cm
Jane Avril was a star dancer at the Parisian cabaret Le Moulin Rouge (The Red Windmill). She knew Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who designed the venue’s well-known posters. He painted Avril on numerous occasions but this work stands out for its subdued quality. She is not on stage but arriving at the cabaret, bundled in a fur-collared coat. A carriage is visible in the background. The painting’s unusual narrow format accentuates Avril’s long face and gaunt figure.