Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Woman Pulling Up Her Stocking is a 1894 oil on cardboard painting that depicts a woman in a brothel. The genre of the painting is categorized under nude paintings; it features a provocative pose where the subject pulls up her stocking, revealing a bit of her bare leg. The medium-sized artwork measures 58 x 48 cm and is currently located at the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi, France.
Toulouse-Lautrec’s painting offers an interesting counterpoint to Fuller’s dazzling exuberance in Woman before a Mirror. Although he was self-conscious about his appearance and rarely painted self-portraits, this artwork is said to be one of his most celebrated pieces because of its loose and sketchy effect, which makes the composition more vivid and alive.
Collectors often call it Prostitute due to the context and posture of the subject. Despite its suggestive imagery or perhaps because of it, this piece remains one of Lautrec’s most iconic work; therefore commissioning reproductions, purchasing wall art or home decor inspired by this piece has become very popular. A remastered version of the painting is now available for purchase as wall art, home decor apparel, phone cases, and greeting cards- making it accessible for everyone who appreciates Henri Toulouse-Lautrecs’ artistic craftmanship.
In essence, Woman Pulling Up Her Stockings showcases not only Lautrec’s proficiency in drawing human figures but also his skill with expressive lines and textured strokes that characterized much of his oeuvre as an artist who captured France’s nightlife scene during its decadent Belle Epoque era (1871-1914).
