Woman Washing Herself (Femme qui se lave)

Woman Washing Herself (Femme qui se lave) is a striking color lithograph created in 1896 by the seminal French Post-Impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in collaboration with master printer Auguste Clot. Executed on thin wove paper, this work is a superb example of the technical innovations applied to prints during the dynamic period spanning 1876 to 1900. Clot’s technical expertise was crucial in translating Lautrec's rapid, expressive drawing style onto the lithographic stone, ensuring the resultant image maintained the fluidity and spontaneity of the artist's original vision.

The subtle layering of color achieved through the collaborative lithographic process highlights the volume and form of the figure without relying on excessive detail. This graphic work showcases Lautrec’s characteristic fluid line and expressive use of color, moving beyond mere representation to convey mood and atmosphere.

The subject matter, a woman engaged in the intimate act of washing or bathing, reflects Lautrec’s enduring fascination with scenes of everyday Parisian life, particularly those occurring away from the public eye. Unlike traditional academic nudes, this work emphasizes domesticity and unguarded, natural posture. Lautrec often utilized unusual angles and cropped compositions, visible in this composition, which lend the piece a sense of immediacy and objective observation. This persistent focus on the private rituals of the demi-monde solidified Lautrec's reputation as a keen visual chronicler of the French fin de siècle.

This print demonstrates the artist’s engagement with mass media and reproductive technologies toward the end of his career, confirming the status of the color lithograph as a major medium for artistic expression in the late 19th century. Woman Washing Herself (Femme qui se lave) is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a significant example of Lautrec’s essential contribution to modern graphic arts.