Tethered Horse

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec rendered this early work around 1881, when he was just seventeen. A horse stands tethered in what appears to be a stable or rural setting, rendered with the loose brushwork that would characterize his mature style. The young artist had a lifelong passion for horses.

Before becoming famous for his Parisian nightlife scenes, Toulouse-Lautrec frequently painted equestrian subjects. His aristocratic family bred horses, and he learned to ride before childhood accidents stunted his legs. This early work shows Impressionist influence before he developed his distinctive graphic style.