Brandès dans sa Loge 1894

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created this lithograph titled "Brandès dans sa Loge." Lautrec’s portrayal offers a glimpse into the Parisian society of the late 19th century, a period marked by significant social and cultural shifts. Toulouse-Lautrec, though an aristocrat, found himself on the margins due to physical disabilities, and in his art, he often depicted those on the fringes of society such as performers, prostitutes, and other denizens of the night. This image captures the actress Brandès in her theater box. It speaks to the power dynamics inherent in the act of viewing, where the gaze can be a form of control and objectification. The opera box becomes a space where social class and gender intersect, as women like Brandès were both admired and scrutinized. Toulouse-Lautrec's art, in its raw depiction of the human experience, offers a potent commentary on the complexities of identity and social life.