Femme au corset - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

A refined colour lithograph from the 1896 Elles series, capturing a quiet, intimate moment of a woman adjusting her corset in a Parisian interior.

This print is a plate from the Elles series, a collection of ten lithographs produced by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. The series offers a glimpse into the private lives of women living in Parisian brothels, moving away from the caricatured or sensationalised depictions common in the era. Instead, the artist focuses on mundane, quiet moments of domesticity and personal grooming. In this composition, a woman stands with her back to the viewer, adjusting her corset. Her posture is relaxed, suggesting a moment of solitude or routine. To her side, a figure in a top hat and formal attire sits, observing the scene. The use of the crayon lithographic technique allows for soft, atmospheric textures, particularly in the rendering of the fabric and the subtle shading of the interior space. The palette is restrained, relying on muted tones that draw attention to the linear quality of the drawing rather than bold colour contrasts. Toulouse-Lautrec was influenced by the flat planes and unconventional cropping found in Japanese woodblock prints. This influence is visible here in the way the space is compressed and the figures are arranged. The work avoids moralising narratives, presenting the subjects with a degree of observational detachment. The artist captures the texture of the clothing and the weight of the figures through economical, expressive lines. This print represents a specific period in the artist's career when he sought to document the reality of his subjects with empathy and technical precision. The Elles series remains a significant example of his mastery of the lithographic medium, demonstrating his ability to convey character through gesture and composition.