Chocolat Dansant by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Chocolat Dansant

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1896

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“This energetic drawing captures the famous performer Chocolat in a moment of dynamic dance. It's a vivid snapshot of Parisian nightlife, focusing on the raw energy of the stage.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In "Chocolat Dansant," a lone figure, likely the dancer Chocolat, is captured mid-movement, his body a blur of energy. The drawing, reproduced here, conveys a sense of spontaneous action through its loose, gestural lines. We see him from behind, his arms raised and legs bent, suggesting a dynamic, almost acrobatic pose. The simplicity of the composition, with its stark background, focuses all attention on the performer's powerful form and the rhythm of his dance. This image offers a glimpse into the vibrant, often raw, world of Parisian entertainment in the late 19th century, a scene Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec frequently observed and depicted.

DETAILS
Artist
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Date
1896
Medium
Process reproduction of drawing
Location
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions
Image: 10 5/8 × 8 11/16 in. (27 × 22 cm) Sheet: 16 7/16 × 12 7/16 in. (41.8 × 31.6 cm)
Collection
Drawings and Prints
Credit line
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962
ART MOVEMENTS
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Chocolat Dansant
01

The way the lines on the figure's back suggest muscle and movement.

02

His raised arms, indicating the peak of a dance step.

03

The dark, almost silhouetted form of the dancer against a lighter background.

04

The sense of motion conveyed by the blurred outlines of his legs.

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THE ARTIST

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

1864–1901 · France

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the aristocratic artist of fin-de-siècle Paris, immortalized the vibrant, often scandalous, life of Montmartre's cabarets and brothels.

Read de Toulouse-Lautrec’s full story
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