Lender and Lavalliere (Lender et Lavallière)

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

National Gallery of Art

The image displays a pencil sketch featuring three individuals and a cat-like figure. The central character is standing straight, looking off to the side with a slightly tilted head, and wearing a cap with short hair visible underneath. They are dressed in a uniform with buttons or badges. Just behind them, another individual is sketched with long hair, part of which falls to one side, and adorned with a headpiece resembling feathers; this person is turning their head to face the central figure and holding a stick or cane. Further to the left, a third person is visible, though more faintly drawn, with long hair. In the background, an outline of a feline head with pointed ears sits atop the central figure. The backdrop is subtly textured with diagonal lines, and the sketch appears on a plain, light background with minimal markings.