La Toilette
1896 Musée d'Orsay
About this artwork
This intimate portrait depicts a red-haired woman sitting on the floor with her back to the viewer while washing. It is executed in oil on cardboard, a medium Toulouse-Lautrec frequently utilized to capture rapid, sketch-like brushwork.
Did you know?
Toulouse-Lautrec had a unique empathy for the marginalized figures of Montmartre, and his series of 'toilette' paintings captures the private, unposed moments of prostitutes with a surprising lack of judgment. Unlike many artists of his time who idealized the nude form, he focused on the mundane, vulnerable, and deeply human aspects of his subjects. This work serves as a prime example of his ability to elevate a simple daily routine into a profound exploration of light and form.
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La Toilette
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1896
