La Blanchisseuse (Toulouse-Lautrec)
| La Blanchisseuse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec |
| Year | 1886 |
| Type | Oil paint on canvas |
| Dimensions | 93 by 75 centimetres (37 in × 30 in) |
| Location | Private collection |
La Blanchisseuse (French: [la blɑ̃ʃisøz], The Laundress) is an 1886 oil on canvas painting by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.[1] In November 2005, it was sold for 22.4 million dollars at auction by Christie's.[2] The subject of laundresses, also known as washerwomen, was a popular one in art, especially in France.[3]
La Blanchisseuse was painted by Toulouse-Lautrec and posed for by the sex worker Carmen Gaudin in 1886. This painting showcases the gritty life and working conditions endured by the working classes throughout the 19th century. The painting was in storage until 2005, when an anonymous buyer acquired it for 22.4 million dollars, breaking the record for his most expensive painting sold at an auction.
Toulouse-Lautrec's life was altered at an early age by disability: he fractured his right femur at the age of 13, and his left at the age of 14. This made him unable to participate in the usual activities of men his age, so he took up an interest in art and illustrations. His legs never grew properly after that, producing a 4 feet 11 inches (1.50 m) adult.[4] Despite his disability and a career lasting only 20 years, he created 737 canvassed paintings, 275 watercolors, 363 prints and posters for the Moulin Rouge and a number of carnivals, 5,084 drawings, and an unknown number of lost works throughout his career. He died at the age of 36. In spite of his early death, he made a name for himself among the Post-Impressionist artists.
The subject of the painting, Carmen Gaudin, was a dignified, humble sex worker who caught Lautrec's eye one day after class.[citation needed] He wrote to his mother about how he met a girl with golden hair. Instantly, he became interested in her and she quickly became one of his favorite models. Carmen helped him with his art studies as he was unsure of his capabilities at the time since he was only 23 years old.[citation needed] After Carmen posed for La Blanchisseuse, it became popular amongst his friends and his mentor, Fernand Cormon.[citation needed] The painting remained relatively private until years after his death when his artworks were displayed.
This piece shows the longing of the subject for something more, as many laundresses were sex workers at night for extra money.[citation needed][original research?] La Blanchisseuse depicts how hard life was for working-class women. Despite its lack of immediate fame, the artwork has gathered interest from many artists as well as historians for its artistic and historical value.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Lautrec painting sells for $22.4m". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 November 2005. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ Berwick, Carly (November 2, 2005). "Toulouse-Lautrec Drives Big Night at Christie's". The New York Sun. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ Malcolmson, Patricia (1986). English laundresses : a social history, 1850-1930. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-252-01293-3. OCLC 12808522.
- ^ Trachtman, Paul (May 2005). "Toulouse-Lautrec". Smithsonian. Retrieved 9 January 2022.