Elsa, Dite la Viennoise

Elsa, Dite la Viennoise is a key print created by the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1897. This evocative piece is a color lithograph, a medium which the artist championed during the fin-de-siècle period. Toulouse-Lautrec excelled in lithography, utilizing the medium’s flexibility to create posters and artistic prints that blurred the line between fine art and commercial advertisement. The technique allowed for broad areas of saturated color and expressive, sketch-like lines, perfectly capturing the energy of modern life in France.

Consistent with his focus on Parisian nightlife and character studies, Toulouse-Lautrec portrays the individual known as Elsa, dite la Viennoise (meaning “called the Viennese woman”). While the specific details of her identity are often tied to the peripheral society of Montmartre, the depiction in Elsa, Dite la Viennoise exemplifies the artist’s characteristic unflinching observation of his subjects. The dynamic composition and subtle use of color define his mature style, prioritizing psychological insight over academic finish.

As a vital example of Post-Impressionist graphic art, this print demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s lasting influence on modern visual culture. The popularity of such prints made works by Lautrec accessible to a wider public and today, some editions of the artist’s work are available through public domain initiatives. This important classification of print is held within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.