The Little Errand-Girl (Le petit trottin) is a compelling 1893 print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Executed as a lithograph in black on delicate Japan paper, the work captures the essence of Parisian urban life during the significant period spanning 1876 to 1900. The stark, linear quality inherent to the lithographic process perfectly suited Toulouse-Lautrec’s style, allowing him to rapidly sketch and capture the fleeting movements and characteristic types of Montmartre.
The subject, known in French as a trottin, refers specifically to a young, working-class girl employed to run errands, often for dressmakers, laundresses, or small businesses. These figures were ubiquitous in urban centers like Paris, symbolizing both the rapid modernization and the economic pressures faced by the lower-middle class. Toulouse-Lautrec, known for documenting the realities of the fin de siècle rather than romanticizing them, portrays the girl moving swiftly, suggesting the constant motion required of her job. This piece is characteristic of the French artist's focus on marginalized or ordinary figures, treating them with a direct, unsentimental gaze.
This lithograph highlights the graphic economy mastered by Toulouse-Lautrec, utilizing sharp contours and minimal shading to convey volume and energy. Unlike many of his famous posters, this work functions as a potent, intimate portrait study, emphasizing the psychological depth of the subject through her posture and expression. The high quality of the printing on Japan paper ensures the deep saturation of the black ink, maximizing the contrast and visual impact of the drawing. This remarkable example of late 19th-century graphic art is preserved in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it contributes to the museum’s comprehensive holdings of European prints. As the creation date places it well outside recent copyright restrictions, many high-resolution images of Toulouse-Lautrec's prints, including The Little Errand-Girl, are frequently available for study and reference through the public domain.
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