Who painted Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair?

Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair was painted by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896.

Where can I see Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair?

Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair?

Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , 1896

Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair is a print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair, created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896, is a print depicting a serene, intimate moment in the life of a woman, characteristic of the artist's fascination with the private lives of marginalized figures in late 19th-century Paris.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, a woman combing her hair in a contemplative pose, reflects Toulouse-Lautrec's interest in portraying the personal, often unseen moments of women in brothels, a theme prevalent in his later work. The composition conveys a sense of quiet intimacy.

Technique & Style

Executed in a style consistent with Toulouse-Lautrec's printmaking, the work features bold, earthy tones and simple, expressive lines. The muted background and focused lighting emphasize the subject's solitude, though the specific printmaking techniques used are not detailed here.

History & Provenance

Part of Toulouse-Lautrec's *Elles* series, the print is now held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art. The series itself is a testament to the artist's exploration of the lives of women in Parisian brothels during the 1890s.

Context

Created amidst Toulouse-Lautrec's immersion in Paris's theatrical and decadent culture, the work contrasts the public spectacle of nightlife with the private, intimate lives of its subjects, highlighting the artist's empathy for marginalized individuals.

Legacy

While the broader impact of *Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair* specifically is not widely detailed, it contributes to Toulouse-Lautrec's legacy of humanizing marginalized figures through art, influencing subsequent generations in portraying intimate, unguarded moments of everyday life.

Artist & collection

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.