Filling a Tub, from "Elles" (1896, Met-Objekt 820)
Original title: Filling a Tub, from "Elles"
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this color lithograph, titled 'Das Wannenfüllen' (Filling the Tub), in 1896 as part of his series 'Elles'. It shows a woman leaning over a washstand to fill a vessel. The print was pulled in five colors on wove paper.
Description
The woman wears a dark dress, her hair tied in a ponytail. She bends over a washstand, filling a container. Behind her, a wall with a window reveals part of a flower, along with a clock and other furniture. The tones are mostly subdued, and light enters from the left, bringing the woman and the washstand into focus.
Context
The 'Elles' series, created in 1896, depicts scenes from the daily lives of prostitutes in Parisian brothels. Toulouse-Lautrec presented these women in intimate moments without idealizing or condemning them. The lithographs were issued in an edition of 100 and aimed at a bourgeois audience.
Impact
The print feels quiet and matter-of-fact, without dramatic tension. The restrained colors and simple action create an intimate atmosphere that draws the viewer close to the scene.
Technique
For this image, Toulouse-Lautrec used lithography, working with crayon, brush, and spatter. Printing in five colors on wove paper allows for subtle tonal gradations. Lithography was his preferred medium because it permitted quick, direct translations of his designs.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)