Woman in Corset (Femme en corset)

Woman in Corset (Femme en corset) is a captivating 4-color lithograph produced in 1896 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and the master printer Auguste Clot. This vibrant print is characteristic of the late 19th century boom in graphic arts, where fine artists collaborated with specialized Parisian ateliers to achieve complex color effects. As a lithograph, the composition was drawn directly onto stone or metal plates, allowing for a unique immediacy in the line work. The sophisticated use of four distinct colors demonstrates the advanced state of chromolithography during this period, transforming what was traditionally a reproductive medium into a primary vehicle for artistic expression.

Created near the end of the pivotal period spanning 1876 to 1900, the work reflects the French Fin de siècle preoccupation with private life and intimate subjects. Lautrec, known for his unflinching portrayals of Parisian dance halls, cabarets, and the lives of women often marginalized by polite society, focuses here on a moment of undress or preparation. The depiction of a woman adjusting or wearing a corset captures the era's complex relationship with costume, labor, and sexuality. While Lautrec designed the original image, Clot’s technical expertise was crucial; the final appearance and texture of the resulting prints owe much to his skillful registration and application of the various inks, particularly in achieving delicate tonal gradations.

This piece stands as a fine example of Clot’s technical mastery in translating Lautrec's fluid drawing style into the medium of the color lithograph. The artist utilized the graphic medium not merely for mass production but to explore subtle atmospheric effects and detailed character study. Today, this significant print remains part of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and the public an enduring view into Parisian life during the 1890s. As a historical document exceeding 125 years in age, high-quality images and resulting prints derived from this lithograph are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to this defining work of the late 19th century.