The artwork “Woman Brothel,” created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1894, is a portrait that embodies the characteristics of the Post-Impressionism movement. The medium used in this artwork is oil on cardboard, and it measures 49 cm by 34 cm. This piece belongs to a private collection and exemplifies the genre of portraiture, showcasing Toulouse-Lautrec’s interest in the lives of Parisian society’s marginalized individuals.
The artwork presents a profile view of a woman whose identity is suggested by the title to be associated with a brothel, a common subject for Toulouse-Lautrec, who frequented the demimonde of Paris and often portrayed its inhabitants. It features bold, emotive color contrasts— notably the striking combination of red and blue that define the subject’s attire. The woman’s hair is rendered in warm tones of yellow and orange, while the background exhibits swift, vertical brushstrokes that provide a sense of depth and texture.
Toulouse-Lautrec’s style here emphasizes the expressive potential of color and form over strict representational accuracy. The woman’s features are captured with a sense of immediacy, with the contoured lines of her profile standing out against the more abstracted background. Her facial expression is introspective and seems to convey a complex emotional state that speaks to the artist’s interest in the psychological portrait.
Despite the simplicity of the composition, the painting is richly suggestive of the subject’s environment and her character. The use of space and the absence of unnecessary detail direct the viewer’s attention to the emotional content of the woman’s demeanor. This portrait, while rooted in the social context of its period, transcends its immediacy, offering a timeless commentary on the human condition.
