Elles: Frontispiece

Elles: Frontispiece is a seminal color lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This Print serves as the introductory image to the artist's famous portfolio, Elles (meaning "Women"), which documents the private lives of women, particularly those working in Parisian brothels. Toulouse-Lautrec mastered the complex medium of color lithography, a popular and accessible technique in late 19th-century France, utilizing its properties to achieve subtle gradations of tone and rich color that capture the intimate atmosphere of the interior.

The work sets a contemplative tone for the series, characterized by the use of simplified forms and expressive outlines typical of Post-Impressionist graphic art. Rather than focusing on the spectacle of Parisian nightlife or the glamour of cabarets, Toulouse-Lautrec turns his attention to the mundane, often domestic, existence of the women behind closed doors. The artist's distinctive style, informed by Japanese woodblock prints and a commitment to observation, allows him to portray his subjects with an unflinching, empathetic gaze. Toulouse-Lautrec offered a profoundly modern approach, avoiding the sensationalism or moralizing often associated with similar themes during the Belle Époque.

The entire Elles portfolio is considered a pinnacle of graphic arts history, demonstrating the expressive power of the print medium during this crucial period of cultural change in France. The frontispiece exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s sophisticated understanding of line and composition, cementing his reputation as a master chronicler of fin-de-siècle society. This significant and rare piece by the French artist is preserved in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.