Henri de Toulouse LAUTREC
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901) was a French painter, printmaker, and illustrator who captured the vibrant nightlife of late 19th-century Paris. Despite physical disabilities that shaped his life, he became a central figure of the Montmartre art scene. His posters and lithographs for cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge revolutionized graphic art with bold outlines, flat colors, and striking compositions.
Blending keen observation with empathy, Lautrec immortalized dancers, performers, and everyday Parisians, offering a vivid record of fin-de-siècle urban culture. His work bridged fine art and popular imagery, securing his place as one of modern art’s great innovators.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901)
Elles, 1896
Suite of pochoir lithographs
The Elles series, published in 1896, is one of Toulouse-Lautrec’s most intimate and revealing bodies of work. Comprising twelve lithographs and a cover, it depicts the daily lives of women in Parisian brothels—not in moments of spectacle, but in their private routines: waking, bathing, dressing, and resting.
With soft lines, muted tones, and a compassionate gaze, Lautrec strips away the stereotypes of the courtesan to portray women with humanity and dignity. Far from caricature, Elles stands as a sensitive testimony to intimacy and the quiet beauty of everyday life.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901)
Frontispiece for the series "Elles", 1896
Lithograph with pochoir coloring
This lithograph served as the frontispiece to Lautrec’s celebrated Elles series, published in 1896. The portfolio presents intimate scenes of Parisian prostitutes, focusing on their daily routines rather than their public personas. Here, a woman in a dressing gown adjusts her hair, her back turned to the viewer, embodying the quiet privacy and unposed dignity that define the series.
Lautrec’s refined lines and flat planes of color highlight his mastery of lithography, while the Elles suite reflects his sympathetic portrayal of marginalized women, offering a rare, humanizing perspective in 19th-century art.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901)
Lithograph from the series "Elles", 1896
Lithograph belonging to Lautrec’s Elles series, created in 1896, which depicts the intimate and everyday lives of Parisian prostitutes. Unlike his famous cabaret posters, these works are quieter, offering tender and empathetic portrayals of women beyond the stage, shown in moments of rest, reflection, and vulnerability.
Executed with pochoir (stencil coloring), the print demonstrates Lautrec’s bold yet delicate use of line and flat color. Far from caricature, Elles captures humanity and dignity, reflecting Lautrec’s deep understanding of the social realities of Montmartre’s demi-monde.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901)
Woman at Her Toilette, from the series Elles, 1896
Lithograph
Lithograph belonging to Lautrec’s celebrated Elles series, which portrays women in the private spaces of brothels. Rather than focusing on eroticism, Lautrec captured their quiet, everyday routines with intimacy and empathy. Here, a woman bends over a washbasin, her body rendered in fluid lines that emphasize both her physical presence and the ordinariness of the moment.
By highlighting gestures of self-care, Lautrec dignifies the lives of these women, offering a rare and compassionate view that challenged the stereotypes of his time.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901)
Two Women in Bed, from the series Elles, 1896
Lithograph
Lithograph belonging to Lautrec’s Elles series, a groundbreaking portfolio depicting the daily lives of Parisian courtesans with honesty and empathy. Here, two women are shown in an intimate, unguarded moment—standing by a bed, their gestures casual and unposed. Lautrec avoids sensationalism, instead emphasizing companionship and the quiet rhythm of private life.
With its soft palette and simplified lines, the work conveys warmth and humanity, underscoring Lautrec’s unique ability to portray marginalized women with dignity and subtle psychological depth.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901)
Woman Combing Her Hair, from the series Elles, 1896
Lithograph
This work belongs to Toulouse-Lautrec’s celebrated Elles portfolio, which intimately portrays the private lives of women working in Parisian maisons closes. Here, a woman is shown in a moment of personal grooming, seated and absorbed in the simple act of combing her hair.
Rendered with soft lines and delicate tonal shading, the composition avoids dramatization, instead capturing the dignity of everyday gestures. Lautrec’s empathetic vision elevates the ordinary, offering a rare and humanizing perspective on women who were often marginalized in 19th-century society.
