Artwork
The Streetwalker
The Streetwalker is an oil painting by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1896, this portrait by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec utilizes oil paint applied to a cardboard support.
Executed in 1896, this portrait by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec utilizes oil paint applied to a cardboard support. The work measures 64.8 cm in height and 53.3 cm in width. As a painting within the portrait genre, it depicts a single female figure.
The choice of cardboard as a ground rather than traditional canvas reflects specific material handling characteristic of the artist's practice during this period.
History & Provenance
The Streetwalker was executed in 1896 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec using oil paint on cardboard. The painting portrays a woman, reflecting the artist's interest in contemporary Parisian life. Its early ownership is recorded as belonging to collector Julius Elias, who held the work before it entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection (accession 2003.20.13).
No record of a formal commission survives, and the work remains part of the museum's permanent holdings. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's 1896 oil painting, The Streetwalker, captures a solitary female figure, reflecting the artist's consistent focus on the diverse social landscape of late 19th-century Paris. This work exemplifies his interest in urban life, particularly its less conventional aspects. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this piece in its collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a woman standing before a backdrop of greenery, dressed in a high-necked garment with a bow and a hat. While the title, The Streetwalker, implies a specific social role, the visual narrative itself offers no explicit contextual clues to confirm this. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently depicted individuals from the city's theaters, brothels, and streets, often highlighting figures from the margins of society.
Context
Born into an aristocratic French family in 1864, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's artistic path was influenced by a childhood accident that resulted in a physical disability. This personal history contributed to his empathy for and artistic engagement with the theatrical and often overlooked populations of Parisian society. His work consistently explored the social dynamics of the city's nightlife and street scenes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.
