Artcurial to Auction Toulouse-Lautrec Lithograph Trial Proofs on May 20
On May 19, 2026, Artcurial announced the upcoming auction of five trial proofs and a signed final version of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's colour lithograph "La Femme à la Fourrure" (The Woman in Fur), depicting the Austrian prostitute and model known as "La Goulue" or "La Femme à la Fourrure." The works, which have been in the same European collection since their acquisition at a 1978 London auction, will be offered on May 20, 2026, at 5pm as part of Artcurial's sale of modern and contemporary editions and multiples. The auction also includes works by Pierre Soulages, Pablo Picasso, David Hockney, and Francis Bacon. The trial proofs, destroyed by the artist before the final impression was designated, were later reassembled and laid down on wove paper.
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The sale of these rare trial proofs offers collectors a unique opportunity to acquire works that demonstrate Toulouse-Lautrec's technical mastery and his revolutionary approach to lithography, influenced by Japanese prints and the Nabis. The artist's non-judgmental portrayal of a prostitute as an elegant woman of society, distinguished only by her bare head, reflects a nuanced perspective on modern life that sets his work apart from contemporaries. For collectors of modern prints, this lot represents a significant addition to any serious collection, given the scarcity of such proofs and the artist's pivotal role in the development of colour lithography.
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- Artists: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard, Pierre Soulages, Pablo Picasso, David Hockney, Francis Bacon
- Auction Houses: Artcurial
- Museums: Musée Toulouse-Lautrec
- Locations: Paris
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