Fastening a Corset, from "Elles"

Fastening a Corset, from "Elles", created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896, is a sophisticated lithograph printed in five colors on wove paper. This work belongs to the celebrated portfolio Elles, a suite of prints offering an unromanticized, intimate glimpse into the lives of Parisian prostitutes and the maisons closes (brothels) where they resided. Using complex color printing techniques, Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the status of the commercial poster and the fine art print simultaneously.

The composition focuses on a central moment of dressing, capturing a woman midway through the difficult physical process of securing her corset. Unlike earlier 19th-century depictions of women performing their toilette, Toulouse-Lautrec’s viewpoint is remarkably candid, showing the strain and effort involved in the ritual of preparation. A male figure, positioned behind her, assists in tightening the laces. The inclusion of the man underscores a specific, often transactional dynamic essential to the subjects’ daily routine, highlighting the shared labor involved in the intimate sphere of the brothel.

This print exemplifies the artist's dedication to documenting the everyday interactions and private labors of the women and men within this closed world. The Elles series is considered a crucial document of fin-de-siècle Parisian life, showcasing the artist’s ability to capture character through economic gesture and carefully modulated color. As a significant example of his late graphic work, the lithograph is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is studied as a primary example of high-quality French prints from the 1890s.