The artwork “The Toilet Ms. Fabre” by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is an oil on board painting completed in 1891 that falls within the Post-Impressionism movement. This genre painting, which is a part of a private collection, showcases Toulouse-Lautrec’s distinctive style and interest in intimate, candid scenes of daily life.
In the artwork, a woman is in the process of grooming herself. She appears to be sitting in a domestic setting, surrounded by a rich array of textures and patterns that give life to the room. Toulouse-Lautrec’s use of color and brushwork creates depth and movement within the composition. The subject is captured with a sense of immediacy and intimacy, her attention focused inward, absorbed in the act of sewing a piece of white fabric. Her attire, a striped, loose-fitting garment, is draped casually around her, and her hair is gathered up, suggesting a moment of private leisure. The background hints at the comforts of her environment through the inclusion of home furnishings such as the chair she is seated upon, the patterned textiles around, and a reflection of a flame, possibly from a fireplace, which adds warmth to the scene. The painting is marked by Toulouse-Lautrec’s characteristic swift brushstrokes and an astute use of line, with the composition focusing on the figure’s actions and the tactile quality of the materials she interacts with.
