Elles (poster for 1896 exhibition at La Plume)
Medium
Crayon, brush, and spatter lithograph printed in four colors on beige wove paper; third of three states (poster edition)
Dimensions
Image: 22 11/16 × 18 1/4 in. (57.7 × 46.3 cm) Sheet: 24 1/8 × 18 1/2 in. (61.2 × 47 cm)
Classification
Prints|Posters
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Clifford A. Furst, 1958
Accession Number
58.621.16
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the masterful chronicler of fin-de-siècle Parisian nightlife, designed this vibrant poster in 1896 to promote his groundbreaking *Elles* series exhibition at La Plume gallery. Printed by Gustave Pellet, *Elles (poster for 1896 at La Plume)* the intimate world of women—likely prostitutes from Montmartre brothels a bold, empathetic style. Toulouse-Lautrec's posters revolutionized advertising art, transforming ephemeral promotions into collectible masterpieces that blurred lines between fine art and commerce. The medium, a crayon, brush, and spatter lithograph in four colors on beige wove paper, exemplifies Lautrec's innovative techniques. This third state represents the final poster edition, with its dynamic splatters and fluid lines evoking movement and immediacy. Measuring about 22 by 18 inches, it was designed for urban display, drawing crowds to the show that showcased 100 lithographs humanizing marginalized women, challenging romanticized views of the era's demimonde. Displayed today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Bequest of Clifford A. Furst, 1958), this work highlights Toulouse-Lautrec's Post-Impressionist flair and social insight, making it a window into Belle Époque Paris's underbelly.
About the Artist
Gustave Pellet|Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French|French) · 1859 |1864 –1919 |1901
French, Paris 1859–1919 Paris|French, Albi 1864–1901 Saint-André-du-Bois