Anna Held

The work Anna Held is a lithograph in black on paper created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This piece exemplifies the artist’s mastery of the print medium, which defined much of his output during the late 19th century. Produced toward the end of the period spanning 1876 to 1900, the work captures the vibrant yet sometimes unsettling atmosphere of the Parisian entertainment world. As a French artist focused on documenting modern life, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithographic process to achieve broad tonal variation and immediate impact, reflecting the growing accessibility and popularity of fine art prints during this era.

The subject of this portrait is Anna Held (1872-1918), a Polish-born stage performer, singer, and actress who achieved considerable fame in Paris before finding success in New York. Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for his insightful and often satirical portrayals of the celebrated figures and everyday inhabitants of Montmartre. Unlike his highly stylized advertising posters, this particular lithograph offers a more intimate, focused study of the celebrity performer. By rendering the image solely in black ink on paper, Toulouse-Lautrec emphasizes contour and gesture, relying on the contrast between delicate lines and heavy shadows to convey the performer's dynamic presence and personality.

The enduring significance of this piece lies in its documentation of Parisian Belle Époque cultural life and its technical brilliance within the history of modern graphic arts. This impression of Anna Held is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Toulouse-Lautrec’s influential approach to graphic design and portraiture ensured his continued recognition, and today, high-resolution reproductions of his prolific output of prints are frequently made available through resources such as public domain initiatives.