Anna Held, from Treize Lithographies

Anna Held, from Treize Lithographies by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901, is a key example of French printmaking from the fin de siècle. This lithograph, executed on cream wove paper in 1898, showcases the artist’s characteristic ability to capture the intimate personalities of Parisian nightlife and provides valuable insight into the Belle Époque celebrity culture.

A master of graphic arts, Lautrec utilized the lithographic process for his prints to achieve rapid lines and subtle tonal variations, techniques essential for his candid portraits of performers. Anna Held was a highly popular actress and music hall singer of the era, known for her magnetic stage presence and sophisticated appeal. This work is part of the series Treize Lithographies (Thirteen Lithographs), a limited collection where Lautrec immortalized various figures from the entertainment and artistic circles of France whom he knew personally. The series, often created for connoisseurs, differs from his larger commercial poster prints, offering a more nuanced documentation of his subjects.

The work's classification as a print reflects the artist’s commitment to reproducible media, a format that allowed his visual commentaries on modern life in France to circulate widely. Created late in his career, this piece reinforces Lautrec's status as the preeminent chronicler of his era. Today, the work is part of the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, making it an essential resource for studying 19th-century French prints and cultural history, a significant piece which has entered the public domain for research and appreciation.