How to Sketch Movement

Explore gesture, movement, and dramatic lighting in Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s studies of urban entertainment.

Drop in anytime for a virtual session of our popular art-making series and experience The Met collection through creative challenges. This week, explore gesture, movement, and dramatic lighting as you develop your own figurative sketches inspired by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s studies of urban entertainment. Check out the inspiration images below, grab a pencil, paper, and watercolor paints if you have them, and get started whenever you’re ready.

Featured artworks:

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901). The Clown: M. Joret, 1885. Pen and black ink (faded to brown), 5 × 4 in. (12.7 × 10.21 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Justin K. Thannhauser, 1951 (51.180)

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901). Madame Abdala, from "Le Café Concert,” 1893. Brush and spatter lithograph with scraper printed in black on wove paper; only state, Sheet: 17 5/16 × 12 5/8 in. (44 × 32 cm) Image: 10 5/8 × 7 7/8 in. (27 × 20 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1923 (23.30.3.6)

Be sure to share your drawing on social media using #MetSketch.

Captioning is made possible by the Ruth Lapham Lloyd Trust.

© 2021 The Metropolitan Museum of Art


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Madame Abdala, from "Le Café Concert", Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec  French, Brush and spatter lithograph with scraper printed in black on wove paper; only state
Multiple artists/makers
1893
The Clown: M. Joret, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec  French, Pen and black ink (faded to brown)
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
1885