The Coiffure (Playbill for the Théâtre Libre)
Original title: The Coiffure (Playbill for the Théâtre Libre)
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this lithograph, Das Frisieren, in 1893 as a programme sheet for the Théâtre Libre. It shows a woman combing the hair of a seated client. Printed in three colours from crayon and brush on imitation japan paper, the work survives in a second state of two.
Description
Two figures dominate: on the left a woman sits in a yellow top, holding a hand mirror, while on the right a hairdresser in a striped shirt stands and arranges her hair. Curtains behind them suggest an interior. Greys govern the colour scheme, with only the yellow of the top standing out. Frontal light illuminates both figures evenly. Hatching and firm outlines define the drawing, as is typical of lithography.
Context
This sheet was made in 1893 as a programme for the Théâtre Libre, an avant-garde Paris stage. The artist took up a motif common in the 1890s: an everyday episode in a ladies' salon. Toulouse-Lautrec, otherwise known for nightlife and demimonde scenes, here presents a quieter, private moment. The naturalist bent of the Théâtre Libre makes the choice of a simple everyday subject understandable.
Impact
Clear lines and a restrained palette give the sheet a calm, intimate mood. Because the bright yellow meets muted greys, the seated woman becomes the focal point. The hatching enlivens the surface and underscores the sketch-like quality of the lithograph.
Technique
For this work Toulouse-Lautrec used crayon and brush lithography in three colours on imitation japan paper. Greasy crayon and ink allow the drawing to be transferred directly to the stone. The present second state differs from the first impression through revisions.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)