Artwork
Poster for "Elles"
Poster for "Elles" 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
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec produced a lithographic poster titled "Elles" in 1896, employing a limited palette of olive green, blue and orange. The print presents a solitary woman in a dark, flowing dress with a white ruffled collar, arms lifted overhead, against a muted brown backdrop. A top‑hat rests on a nearby table, adding a subtle note of refinement to the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a woman poised in an elegant yet restrained stance, evokes the atmosphere of Parisian nightlife that fascinated Toulouse-Lautrec. Her raised arms and the presence of the hat suggest a theatrical or performative moment, hinting at the world of cabarets and brothels that the artist frequently recorded in his work.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the image was drawn on a stone or metal plate and transferred to paper, allowing for flat areas of color and delicate line work. Toulouse-Lautrec’s use of contrasting deep hues against a light background exemplifies his characteristic blend of graphic clarity and atmospheric suggestion.
History & Provenance
The poster emerged during the artist’s most productive period, when he was actively documenting the bohemian culture of late‑19th‑century Paris. Born into an aristocratic French family in 1864, Toulouse-Lautrec’s personal injuries and subsequent immersion in the city’s entertainment districts informed the subject matter of works such as "Elles."
Context
"Elles" reflects the broader cultural climate of the Belle Époque, a time when Parisian cafés, theatres and maisons de tolérance were central to social life. The poster’s subdued palette and simplified composition align with the era’s shift toward modern graphic design, while still retaining the artist’s keen observational eye.
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.
