Provenance:Sotheby's, New York, sale June 23, 1982, lot 89.Literature:Madeleine Grillaert Dortu, Toulouse-Lautrec and his work, New York 1971, vol. V, pp. 388-389, no. D.2.376-D.2.377, (illustrated).Lot Essay:Although he is best known for his gaudy depictions of Montmartre’s nightlife, Toulouse-Lautrec engaged in the art of caricature throughout his entire career. He first started this playful practice as a teenage boy, compiling sketches of family members and friends in several albums he kept near him. As a young adult, he continued this habit in Parisian cafés and nightclubs, capturing the people around him with wit and humor. As seen in the present Lot, his caricature work spans a range of styles—from minimal, linear renderings to more elaborate and traditional "portrait-charges" featuring oversized heads and small bodies. Rothberg was particularly captivated by these whimsical pieces, as they offered insight into a lesser-known, lighthearted side of the artist’s character that few collectors appreciated.