Elles (portfolio cover) (1896, Met-Objekt 816)
Original title: Elles (portfolio cover)
kurzbeschreibung
For the cover of the 1896 portfolio Elles, a woman in a blue dress bends over, an orange hat in her hand. In the foreground, a figure in a top hat sits. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this three-color lithograph using crayon, brush, and spatter techniques on wove paper.
Description
A woman in a blue dress with a white sleeve leans forward, holding an orange hat. Opposite her, seated in the foreground, is a person in a white coat and brown top hat. The background is plain yet textured, with soft gradations and lines hinting at a city setting. Blue, white, orange, and brown dominate the pastel-toned palette. Light seems diffused, arising from the print's color and texture.
Context
In 1896, Toulouse-Lautrec published the portfolio Elles, featuring lithographs about the lives of prostitutes in Parisian brothels. This title page served as the frontispiece for an edition of 100 copies issued by the art dealer Gustave Pellet. It presents a familiar, everyday scene, typical of the artist's unpretentious observation of his models.
Impact
The quiet, ordinary moment feels understated and creates an intimate atmosphere. Soft lines and pastel hues give the print an almost tender tone, setting it apart from the often satirical works of the period.
Technique
The three-color lithograph was printed with crayon, brush, and spatter on wove paper. This is the second of three states, intended for the frontispiece edition. The paper bears a watermark with the initials G. Pellet and T. Lautrec.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)