In 1894, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec painted Two Half-Naked Women Seen from Behind in the Rue des Moulins Brothel, capturing the sumptuous decor of a well-furnished Parisian brothel. The painting depicts two women in lingerie with their backs to the viewer. It is said that Toulouse-Lautrec spent time at this particular brothel where he had sexual encounters and made sketches.
Aside from his erotic artworks, Toulouse-Lautrec was known for elevating advertising to fine art status. He also created a series of pictures portraying the lives of prostitutes executed between 1892 and 1896. This collection includes portraits of specific women such as Mireille, who captured the artist’s heart.
This painting is one of many pieces depicting sex workers done by Toulouse-Lautrec during his career. Throughout art history, painting sex workers has been both stigmatized and glorified by various artists — but none may have captured this world quite like Toulouse-Lautrec’s paintings did. His work not only acknowledged the existence of these women but also turned them into icons while highlighting their humanity outside their profession. Two Half-Naked Women Seen from Behind in the Rue des Moulins Brothel shows us that even behind closed doors and silky garments, there still exists loneliness, intimacy, and perhaps even fleeting moments of true connection between people.
