The artwork titled “Two girls” is a creation by the acclaimed artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, produced approximately between the years 1880 and 1890. This genre painting, recognized for its depiction of scenes from everyday life, is executed with pastel on cardboard and is associated with the Post-Impressionism art movement, a period known for its rejection of the limitations of Impressionism and its venture into various stylistic directions.
The artwork presents a candid moment capturing the intimacy of its subjects. Two women are featured; one has her back to the viewer, baring the skin of her back and partially her side, while the other stands opposite, clothed and facing the woman in a manner that suggests a close and private interaction. The use of pastel imbues the artwork with a soft texture and rich coloration, conveying the warmth and the emotional tenor of the shared moment between the two figures. The composition, with a strong focus on the naturalism of the human form and the use of unembellished lines, is characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec’s interest in portraying the personal and often overlooked aspects of human life, embracing a sense of realism that was quite forward for his time. The background, rendered in dim, muted tones, allows the viewer to concentrate on the interplay between the figures, accentuating the narrative implied by their body language and proximity.
