Study of a Woman (1893, Met-Objekt 838)
Original title: Study of a Woman
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this lithograph, 'Study of a Woman', in 1893. It presents a female nude seen from behind. The image measures 24.8 x 20 cm and was printed in olive green on wove paper.
Description
The figure stands with her back to us, head turned to the left, long hair falling down her back. She is slightly bent, arms extended behind her. Faint shapes in the background suggest a window or wall opening. Thin, delicate strokes define the drawing, entirely in olive green. At the bottom are the signature 'Flammar' and the year '1893'.
Context
The lithograph was made in Paris in 1893, when Toulouse-Lautrec was known primarily for his posters and prints. There he devoted himself to nightlife and people on the margins of society. The female nude, which he returned to repeatedly, appears here as a recurring theme in his work.
Impact
The delicate lines and the monochrome olive tone give the image a calm, intimate mood. Because the model is shown from behind, her personality recedes, and the formal design of the body comes to the fore.
Technique
The print was executed as a brush and spatter lithograph, printed in a single state in olive green. It was printed on wove paper mounted on cardboard. The spatter lithography allowed for fine tonal gradations and a lively surface texture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)