The Kiss

Painted in 1892, this depiction of two women sharing a kiss belongs to the series of intimate works Lautrec produced from his unique access to Paris's licensed brothels. Unlike the titillating representations of lesbian intimacy produced for male consumption in academic and popular art of the period, Lautrec's brothel scenes were characterised by his genuine sympathy and respect for the women who worked there. He saw the house on the Rue des Moulins as a sociological and human subject, and the intimate moments between the residents provided material for works of unusual tenderness. The series was largely unpublished during his lifetime.

The composition is stripped to its essential human content — two faces in close proximity — without erotic display or voyeuristic framing. The sparse handling on pale cardboard allows the intimate observation to register with maximum directness. Lautrec's economical line contains within it a remarkable psychological warmth.