Serving Breakfast (Madame Baron and Mademoiselle Popo), from "Elles" (1896, Met-Objekt 914)
Original title: Serving Breakfast (Madame Baron and Mademoiselle Popo), from "Elles"
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made the lithograph 'Serving Breakfast (Madame Baron and Mademoiselle Popo)' in 1896, showing two women in an interior. It belongs to the 'Elles' series, which portrays life in brothels.
Description
A standing woman carrying a tray with a cup and cake draws the eye first; opposite her, a second woman sits at a table. The standing figure wears a high-buttoned dress and has curly hair, while the seated one has long, dark hair and a plain top. Wall and window form a spare background. Red chalk on white paper gives the print its monochrome character. Light spreads evenly, with no striking shadows or contrasts.
Context
Prompted by his repeated stays in brothels, the lithographs of the 'Elles' series were made in 1896. They show the daily lives of prostitutes beyond common clichés. The portrait of Madame Baron and Mademoiselle Popo presents a familiar, everyday encounter, characteristic of Lautrec's interest in the private milieu.
Impact
The print's subdued color and simple arrangement make it feel calm and almost intimate. The focus on the figures and their daily activity comes across as unforced and direct, without sentimental heightening.
Technique
The lithograph was printed in red chalk on wove paper—a method Lautrec often chose for his graphic works. The print yields soft, strong lines and areas that recall a red-chalk drawing. In this way, a quick, spontaneous rendering of the scene is achieved.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)