Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair

"Elles: Woman Combing Her Hair," created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896, is a cornerstone of his celebrated suite of prints focusing on the intimate lives of Parisian women in the maisons closes. This major color lithograph exemplifies the artist's dedication to printmaking as a primary medium, showcasing his mastery of line and tone through this demanding technique. Produced in France during the height of the Belle Époque, this piece forms part of the limited Elles album, designed to capture the unvarnished reality of women’s private domesticity in the city’s working quarters.

Toulouse-Lautrec rejects the common sensationalism of the period, opting instead for candid, often unconventional compositions that appear almost photographic. In this particular image, the subject is rendered with soft, sweeping lines and modulated color washes characteristic of fin-de-siècle graphic arts. The subdued palette and focus on the mundane action of grooming draw the viewer into a moment typically hidden from the public eye, revealing an empathetic perspective on the sitter.

As a master of the print medium, Toulouse-Lautrec played a pivotal role in elevating lithography to the status of high art, making his work accessible to a broader audience. The enduring power and historical significance of this series ensure its continued study in art history. This important example of late nineteenth-century French graphic arts, considered a masterpiece of the artist’s oeuvre, is permanently housed in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. High-quality prints of this work are frequently studied, reflecting the enduring public domain status of many significant works from this era.