Elles

Elles is a significant series of 11 lithographs created by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This collection offers a sensitive portrayal of life within Parisian brothels during the late 19th century. Toulouse-Lautrec spent considerable time observing the daily lives and interactions of prostitutes and their clients, aiming to depict them as complex human beings with both strengths and weaknesses.1

The series is renowned for its psychological insight and captures the isolation and loneliness experienced by the women, reflecting Toulouse-Lautrec's own feelings of isolation. Works like Au salon de la rue des Moulins (At the Salon) exemplify his commitment to depicting "the true and not the ideal," focusing on the essential nature of his subjects through expressive lines and bold colors. Elles is considered a masterpiece of its genre and a powerful testament to Toulouse-Lautrec's empathetic approach to documenting the human condition.12