The Seated Clowness (Mademoiselle Cha-u-ka-o), from "Elles"

The Seated Clowness (Mademoiselle Cha-u-ka-o), from "Elles" is a pivotal print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This technically complex work is a crayon, brush and spatter lithograph with scraper, printed in a sophisticated process utilizing five colors on wove paper. The sheet bears a unique watermark (G. Pellet / T. Lautrec), indicating its intended high quality as part of a limited edition suite distributed by the publisher Gustave Pellet. The subject, Mademoiselle Cha-u-ka-o, was a notable performer in the Parisian entertainment circuit, renowned for her role as a professional clown.

This lithograph belongs to Toulouse-Lautrec's renowned series Elles, which provided an intimate, often candid view of women, primarily focusing on the private world of models and performers in fin-de-siècle Paris. Cha-u-ka-o is shown seated and relaxed, capturing a moment offstage. The artist expertly employs broad strokes and selective spatter effects, characteristic of his unique printmaking style, to define the figure and costume while preserving a sense of spontaneity. The image is a significant study of women entertainers, focusing on the individual beneath the elaborate facade of the clown persona.

As one of the masterworks of 19th-century French prints, this impression resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its technical execution demonstrates why Toulouse-Lautrec is considered one of the foremost masters of the lithographic medium, elevating the classification of prints from mere commercial reproduction to fine art. Works like The Seated Clowness from 1896 are often studied for their innovative application of color and line, offering essential insight into the cultural and social atmosphere of the time. This significant public domain artwork provides ongoing access to the artist's groundbreaking depiction of Parisian nightlife.