La Lépreuse

La Lépreuse is a rare and evocative print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. This work is executed as a lithograph in red-brown ink on light brown wove paper, a technique that demonstrates the French artist’s skill in exploiting the subtle tonalities achievable through printing processes. Lithography, which relies on chemical separation rather than physical cutting, allowed Toulouse-Lautrec great freedom and fluidity in line work, resulting in a sketch-like immediacy. The rich, warm red-brown hue chosen for the ink imbues the figure with a sense of gravity and intimacy, characteristic of the artist's focused figure studies.

While Toulouse-Lautrec's most famous output is generally attributed to the later fin-de-siècle period, this piece is classified within the cultural output designated 1851 to 1875, marking it firmly within the evolving landscape of French art during the latter half of the nineteenth century. This era saw a shift toward Naturalism and Realism, trends that deeply influenced Toulouse-Lautrec's choice of subject matter: the unidealized reality of everyday Parisian life. As a master of graphic arts, Toulouse-Lautrec employed the production of prints to distribute his compelling portrayals of marginalized individuals, entertainers, and working-class figures.

The title, La Lépreuse (The Leper Woman), suggests a poignant focus on suffering or isolation, themes Toulouse-Lautrec often approached with both unflinching honesty and profound empathy. The classification as a print highlights the important role that reproductive media played in the development of modern art, making high-quality works accessible to a wider audience. This significant piece of graphic art is maintained in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, providing historical context for the social realism prevalent in French culture as the 19th century progressed.