Woman with Tray, Breakfast (Femme au plateau, Petit déjeuner) from Elles

Woman with Tray, Breakfast (Femme au plateau, Petit déjeuner) from Elles by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a significant print created in 1896, forming part of his famous portfolio Elles. This acclaimed series consists of twelve highly detailed lithographs that shifted away from the artist’s typical vibrant commercial posters for a more sober, observational style focused on the private lives of Parisian women, often those residing in the capital’s regulated houses of pleasure. The artist’s masterful decision to use lithography allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to achieve nuanced tonal gradations and expressive, delicate lines, lending an atmospheric quality to the intimate interior scene captured in this piece. The work captures a moment of domestic quietude, representing a notable departure from the often-boisterous public world typically associated with the French artist’s broader production.

In this specific image, Toulouse-Lautrec presents a woman seated at a table, presumably resting after a night's duties, preparing for a simple meal. The composition is strikingly naturalistic; the subject is not idealized but rather observed during an unvarnished daily ritual. Her posture suggests profound weariness or deep contemplation, inviting the viewer into a moment of vulnerability. Unlike many contemporary depictions of similar subjects, this work avoids overt sensationalism, offering instead a sympathetic and empathetic view of the woman’s existence. The print's power lies in its unembellished psychological depth, achieved through the subtle play of line and shadow, characteristic of the finest examples of fin-de-siècle graphic arts.

Produced during a prolific period for Toulouse-Lautrec, this 1896 print exemplifies the era’s rising fascination with marginalized figures and private intimacy. The complete portfolio, Elles, collectively offered a rare and candid window into a frequently hidden segment of French society. This seminal lithograph, classified as a print, demonstrates the artist’s technical mastery of the medium beyond his painting practice. The original work resides in the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. As a historic and culturally important piece of late 19th-century art, the underlying imagery and details of these celebrated prints are studied globally, and high-quality reproductions are often accessible for educational purposes, sometimes falling into the public domain.