Le Lit (Toulouse-Lautrec)

Through the 1890s, he spent more and more time painting everyday scenes of life in the official brothels, the maisons closes.

He spent time observing the brothel, its residents and visitors, while they worked and at quieter moments, and made sixteen portraits of the sex workers.

These paintings demonstrate a close and intimate observation and compassion towards the subjects, without any sense of sensationalism or voyeurism.

Le Lit was made in oil paints on cardboard, mounted on wood, and measures 53.5 by 70 centimetres (21.1 in × 27.6 in).

The painting is suffused by a warm glow, perhaps the rosy morning light, or a gas lamp.