Woman in Corset (Femme en corset) from Elles

Woman in Corset (Femme en corset) from Elles by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a seminal example of French graphic art created in 1896. This evocative piece is one of twelve original lithographs that constitute the artist’s groundbreaking portfolio, Elles (She’s or Women). Utilizing the medium of lithography, Toulouse-Lautrec achieved a powerful combination of delicate line work and rich tonal variation, enabling him to produce prints that blurred the line between fine art and commercial illustration.

The Elles series is historically significant for its subject matter: an unflinching, intimate portrayal of women living and working within Parisian brothels. Rather than presenting sensationalized or moralized depictions, this work captures a private, unguarded moment. Woman in Corset shows the subject in a moment of rest or preparation, clad only in her undergarments. Toulouse-Lautrec’s observational style places the viewer in close, almost voyeuristic, proximity, granting a glimpse into the mundane realities of the lives of these women. The composition reflects the aesthetic currents of the period, particularly the simplified forms and bold contours borrowed from Japanese ukiyo-e prints, which greatly influenced French art in the late 19th century.

Toulouse-Lautrec, an astute chronicler of the vibrant, yet often harsh, realities of Belle Époque Paris, consistently focused his attention on the theaters, cafés, and the demimonde. His empathetic and honest approach distinguishes his treatment of these subjects from many of his contemporaries. The artistic maturity displayed in the Elles series solidifies the artist’s reputation as a master draftsman and a pivotal figure in Post-Impressionism. As an essential piece of this influential portfolio, this impression of the print is housed within the renowned collection of the Museum of Modern Art.