Artwork
Frontispiece
Frontispiece is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition presents a woman in a flowing blue dress topped with a wide-brimmed hat, accompanied by a loosely rendered straw hat and a single flower.
Created in 1896, *Frontispiece* is a lithographic print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec that employs a limited palette of olive green, blue, and orange. The composition presents a woman in a flowing blue dress topped with a wide-brimmed hat, accompanied by a loosely rendered straw hat and a single flower. The background remains largely empty, punctuated only by the inscription "ELLES par" at the top, giving the work the character of a rapid study rather than a finished portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a solitary female figure whose facial features are suggested rather than detailed, emphasizing the fleeting nature of the scene. The inclusion of a hat and flower rendered in quick strokes hints at the fashionable yet transient world of Parisian nightlife that Toulouse-Lautrec frequently explored. By focusing on a marginal, perhaps theatrical, presence, the print reflects the artist’s interest in the lives of performers and the peripheral characters of late‑19th‑century Paris.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on bold, flat areas of color—most notably the vivid blue dress and orange accents—combined with simple geometric shapes. The lines are intentionally loose and gestural, conveying a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. This approach aligns with Toulouse-Lautrec’s broader practice of using lithography to produce quick, expressive studies that could be reproduced for posters and illustrations, highlighting his skill in balancing graphic clarity with atmospheric suggestion.
History & Provenance
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, born into French aristocracy in 1864, produced *Frontispiece* during a prolific period when he was actively working as a printmaker and illustrator. The piece reflects his personal perspective shaped by a lifelong physical disability that positioned him as an observer of Paris’s theatrical and decadent circles. While specific ownership records for this particular print are limited, it remains representative of the artist’s output in the 1890s, a decade marked by his extensive contributions to the visual culture of Montmartre.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
Elles: Frontispiece
Elles
Folder for Frontispiece of Elles
Poster for "Elles"
Bust of Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender (Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender, en buste)
At the Concert (Au concert)
The Old Gentlemen (Les vieux messieurs)
The Sagot Address
Mme. Le Marguoin, Milliner (Mme. Le Marguoin, modiste)
Lugne Poe and Baldy in "Au-dessus des forces humaines" (Lugne Poe et Baldy dans "Au-desses des forces humaines")
At the Concert (Au concert)
Frontispiece for "Elles"