Elles, The Seated Clown, Mlle Cha-u-Ka-o (1896)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1896 lithograph "Elles, The Seated Clown, Mlle Cha-u-Ka-o" captures a mesmerizing scene from the vibrant world of the Parisian cabaret. This artwork skilfully portrays Cha-u-Ka-o, a Clownesse (female clown) who performed at the famous Moulin Rouge. Dressed in a dynamic costume featuring a striking yellow ruff, her posture and expression reflect a blend of weariness and contemplation, far removed from the jovial antics expected of her profession.The background of the painting offers a glimpse into the bustling cabaret life, with figures dressed in evening wear suggestive of the social interactions and dynamics of the entertainment venue. However, the focus remains intensely on the clown, isolated and introspective amidst the surrounding revelry. This contrast offers viewers a poignant look at the human behind the performance, inviting considerations about the dichotomy between public personas and private realities.Toulouse-Lautrec’s use of soft yet defined color patches and delicate line work adds a dreamlike quality to the piece, emphasizing both the glamour and underlying melancholy of cabaret life.
Delivery
Returns
Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse Lautrec was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator whose immersion in the colourful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 19th century allowed him to produce a collection of enticing, elegant, and provocative images of the sometimes decadent affairs of those times.