Seated Clowness (La Clownesse assise)

Seated Clowness (La Clownesse assise) is a rare color lithograph created in 1896 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, working in collaboration with the master printer Auguste Clot. Executed on wove paper, this particular impression is designated as a bon à tirer proof, marking it as the specific impression approved by Toulouse-Lautrec for color and quality before the mass production of the edition. The classification as a print highlights the artist’s dedication to this reproducible medium during the late 19th century.

This work exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s pervasive fascination with the marginalized figures and dynamic, sometimes melancholy, spectacle of Parisian society during the period of 1876 to 1900. The French artist often focused on performers, dancers, and circus entertainers, capturing them with an immediate, unsentimental realism rather than idealized glamour. The composition emphasizes Lautrec's skills in capturing expression and form using the demanding technique of color lithography. The necessary collaboration with Clot was essential for achieving the technical brilliance seen in the precise color separation and registration of these complicated prints.

As a foundational piece of Post-Impressionist graphic work, this image is significant both for its technical quality and its powerful subject matter. The subtle coloring and evocative posture of the subject underscore Lautrec’s profound observational ability. Today, many important prints like Seated Clowness are cataloged within the public domain, increasing access to studies of the artist’s innovative approach to color and line. This specific proof remains an essential reference for understanding the master’s graphic output. The work is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it represents a high point in late 19th-century French printmaking.