Fastening a Corset, from "Elles"
Original title: Fastening a Corset, from "Elles"
kurzbeschreibung
In 1896, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec produced the lithograph 'Das Korsett schnüren' (Lacing the Corset), which depicts a woman putting on her corset while a man looks on. It belongs to the series 'Elles', in which Lautrec captured scenes from the daily lives of prostitutes. The print was made in five colors on wove paper and measures 51.9 x 40.0 cm.
Description
In the foreground, the woman laces her corset; her dress has a lively pattern, and her hair is pinned up in a bun. A man in a suit and top hat stands behind her, watching. A curtained window and a wall painting are suggested in the background. Pastel tones dominate, especially blues and grays. The light comes from the front and spreads evenly across the scene.
Context
The 'Elles' portfolio was created in 1896, after Toulouse-Lautrec had immersed himself in the life of Parisian brothels, where he sometimes lived and worked. The lithographs capture everyday moments of the women without resorting to common clichés, and are regarded as a sensitive testimony to their circumstances. The edition was 100 copies; commercial success was initially lacking.
Impact
The familiar action feels almost incidental and free of drama, thanks to the calm layout and pastel tones. The man's presence in the background creates a quiet tension between observation and retreat, without turning the woman into a mere object.
Technique
For this print, Toulouse-Lautrec chose lithography, printed in five colors on wove paper. He valued its painterly possibilities and the chance to achieve fine gradations in color and texture. The execution shows a precise rendering of figures and space, characteristic of his later years.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)