The influential French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, in collaboration with the master printer Auguste Clot, created the evocative lithograph Woman with a Tray (Femme au plateau) in 1896. Classified as a fine art print, this work exemplifies the innovative approach to graphic arts that characterized the European avant-garde during the late nineteenth century.
Dating squarely within the period of 1876 to 1900, the print demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s sophisticated mastery of the lithographic medium. He was a crucial figure in elevating the status of the poster and print, moving the medium beyond commercial reproduction and into the realm of high art. The execution of this piece required the precise technical skill of Clot, who was responsible for translating the artist’s nuanced palette into layered color plates. The resulting image captures an intimate, unidealized figure, likely a server or maid, caught in a moment of repose or motion while carrying a tray.
Toulouse-Lautrec’s characteristic style—marked by expressive outlines, stark contrasts, and flat areas of color—is highly visible in this composition. His aesthetic choices were deeply influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints, which contributed to the asymmetrical framing and snapshot quality often found in his work. These stylistic innovations helped define the visual language of the French Fin de Siècle, focusing primarily on the unvarnished reality of Parisian life, particularly its entertainment districts and working population.
This print serves as a crucial document of the modernization of printmaking during this era. As a significant work by Toulouse-Lautrec, the lithograph illuminates his commitment to depicting human subjects with immediacy and psychological depth. Such important works, produced during a pivotal time in art history, often enter the public domain over time, allowing for wider study and access. This specific example of the Woman with a Tray (Femme au plateau) resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art.
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