Bust of Mademoiselle Lender

Toulouse-Lautrec made several portraits of the actress Marcelle Lender at the height of her stardom in 1895 when she was featured in the operetta Chilpéric--libretto and music by Hervé--performed at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris. The artist attended the production on more than 20 occasions, arriving just in time to see the final bolero in which Lender’s multilayered skirts created an explosion of bright pink and green tulle as she danced. With the fuchsia flowers and green cape, Toulouse-Lautrec evoked the performance that helped win Lender acclaim.