Frontispiece, from Elles

The Frontispiece, from Elles is a defining color lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) in 1896. This sophisticated print was executed on ivory wove paper, showcasing the artist’s mastery of color lithography, which became a signature medium of his late nineteenth-century output. The production involved collaboration among major figures of the Parisian print scene: it was published by Gustave Pellet and likely printed by Auguste Clot, a highly respected imprimeur known for his precise registration and subtle handling of layered color.

This piece serves as the introductory image for the influential album Elles, a portfolio of ten plates dedicated to documenting the private, unvarnished lives of women living and working within Parisian brothels. Rather than sensationalizing the subject matter, Toulouse-Lautrec used the intimacy afforded by his unique vantage point to portray these marginalized figures with notable dignity and psychological depth, a characteristic approach within his deeply empathetic prints. The composition often employs flattened planes and expressive line work, demonstrating the influence of Japanese ukiyo-e aesthetics on fin-de-siècle art in France.

The 1896 work represents a peak moment in the development of Modern prints during the Belle Époque, defining the era’s fascination with unconventional subjects observed firsthand. As an historically important example of the artist’s graphic work, the piece is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it contributes to the museum’s extensive holdings of late 19th-century graphics. Because of its age and prominent museum status, this significant artwork is frequently made available for study and viewing through public domain initiatives.