Elles

Elles is a groundbreaking series of prints created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This celebrated portfolio, executed in the demanding medium of lithography, documents intimate, unromanticized moments in the daily lives of women working in Parisian maisons closes (brothels). Toulouse-Lautrec, a prolific master of the printing technique, utilized the greasy stone and transfer method characteristic of lithographs to capture the raw, immediate qualities of his subjects, establishing him as the definitive chronicler of fin-de-siècle French urban experience.

The French artist was uniquely positioned within the marginalized communities of Montmartre, observing the fatigue, companionship, and daily rituals of the sex workers with a remarkable lack of moral judgment. Unlike previous artistic treatments of the subject, Toulouse-Lautrec avoided narrative melodrama or caricature, focusing instead on quiet interior scenes: women dressing, resting, or sharing simple meals. This unflinching observational style is a hallmark of his post-Impressionist approach.

The prints in the Elles series employ simplified forms, bold, expressive outlines, and planes of color often influenced by the aesthetic principles of Japanese woodblock prints, which were highly influential in Paris during this period. The technical execution elevates these works beyond mere illustration; the artist pushed the commercial capabilities of the lithograph to achieve the expressive force typically reserved for painting.

This body of work solidified Toulouse-Lautrec’s reputation as a central figure in modern art. The 1896 portfolio is considered a pivotal moment in the history of printmaking, demonstrating how reproductive media could be transformed into high art. This influential work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. As the original prints are rare, the widespread study and appreciation of this crucial series have made components of the work available through the public domain, securing its enduring significance in the canon of nineteenth-century art.