Bidspirit auction | Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) - Your lips, 1893. Sepia lithograph on paper Sheet dimensions: approx. 39.5 × 24 cm Signature in stone (HTL monogram in a circle), lower margin with handwritten title and pencil annotation: ”D 21 – Ta bouche – suite de 12 lithos” Condition: Good; light soiling and darkening in the margins consistent with age Provenance: The Estate of Alexander Dobkin, New York Description: One of 12 famous lithographs comprising Toulouse-Lautrec's intimate ”Elles” series – commissioned by the owner of a Parisian brothel. The work depicts a woman deep in sleep – the reduced, expressive linework perfectly captures the artist's intentions, focused on psychology and gesture. The title ”Ta bouche” (Your Mouth) is an ironic reference to the physical and emotional spheres. Description in pencil at the bottom: ”D 21 – Ta bouche – Toulouse-L.”