Rousse, dit aussi La Toilette 1889

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captured this scene, painted with oils on cardboard. His choice of material is important because it allowed him to work quickly, and cheaply, which was critical to his artistic practice. The textured surface of the cardboard peeks through the layers of paint, lending a raw, unfinished quality to the work. We can see every stroke of the brush, the directions in which the artist was moving, almost as if we are in the room with him as he works. The visible brushwork gives a sense of immediacy and authenticity to the scene, and we can see the cardboard as a surface of support, rather than a blank canvas that has been hidden by paint. The subject matter is relevant here, too; this is a moment of intimate labor, with the woman washing herself. Lautrec dignifies the act of bathing, through the act of making a painting. In this way, materials, making, and context are tied together, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.