Visiting The Met? The Temple of Dendur will be closed Sunday, April 27 through Friday, May 9. The Met Fifth Avenue will be closed Monday, May 5.

Learn more

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


Close-up of a Queen of Clubs playing card with a cut-out section. Behind it, a faded, ghostly face is visible, creating a surreal, mysterious mood.
The artist’s work challenges the social and political context of mass incarceration.
Lisa Sutcliffe
April 28
Close up of ocean debris, including shells and rocks, against glittering black sand.
Audio
The archaeology of rubbish.
August 13, 2024
Detail of lacquered tray with scenes from Virgil’s Aeneid. The section depicts figures fighting on horseback, ships at sea, and ornate floral motifs.
Audio
Beyond superfoods and infomercials.
July 30, 2024
More in:Art-Making

A slider containing 2 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
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