Getting Up, from "Elles" (1896, Met-Objekt 824)
Original title: Getting Up, from "Elles"
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made 'Aufstehen' (Getting Up) in 1896 as part of the 'Elles' series. This four-color lithograph was drawn with crayon, brush and spatter and finished with a scraper on wove paper. Two figures occupy a room: a woman in a long white dress and a naked boy, both turned toward the left.
Description
On the left stands a tall woman with long dark hair in a white dress, her arms slightly raised, her posture calm and upright. Beside her, to the right, a smaller naked boy with short reddish-brown hair holds his arms up a little too, his body slim and sinewy. Behind them a yellow, wavy pattern runs across the wall, while a red ornament at the lower right suggests a curtain or a piece of furniture. Pastel tones dominate, soft overall, with clear contrasts between the bodies and their surroundings. Light enters from the left, casting shadows along the right side of the figures and into the room.
Context
The 'Elles' series of 1896 deals with the lives of prostitutes in Parisian brothels, places Toulouse-Lautrec knew well. This sheet records an intimate everyday moment, and it avoids the usual voyeuristic gaze in favor of a quiet, respectful view. The lithograph was issued in an edition of 100 and belonged to a planned portfolio that was never fully published.
Impact
The near-ordinariness of the two figures creates an atmosphere that is intimate and detached at once. Soft pastel shades and delicate linework give the sheet a tender, almost sketchy quality. The moment of getting up is caught as a silent, private one.
Technique
Printing was done in four colors, using crayon, brush and spatter. The scraper served to bring out fine highlights and textures, above all in the hair and the background. Spatter leaves a textured surface that benefits the wall patterns and ornamental details.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)