The work, At the Renaissance: Sarah Bernhardt in "Phedre" (A la Renaissance: Sarah Bernhardt dans "Phèdre"), was created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. This lithograph in black on velin paper captures the legendary stage actress Sarah Bernhardt in one of her most intense roles. As a significant example of French prints from the period 1876 to 1900, this piece captures the dramatic energy that defined the Parisian theatrical scene during the Belle Époque.
Toulouse-Lautrec, renowned for his penetrating documentation of Parisian life, specialized in portraiture of performers, socialites, and figures from the demimonde. However, his depictions of high-profile performers like Bernhardt demonstrate a sharp contrast to his more chaotic cabaret scenes, focusing instead on individualized emotion. In this particular image, Bernhardt embodies the title role of Phèdre, Jean Racine’s tragic heroine known for her destructive, passionate obsession.
The artist utilizes the stark black-and-white contrast inherent in the lithographic process to great effect, emphasizing the emotional turmoil of the character. Toulouse-Lautrec avoids background detail, concentrating the viewer’s focus on the actress’s dramatic profile and the sweeping lines of her costume. The technique, characterized by expressive line work and bold outlines, demonstrates why Lautrec was considered a master printmaker of his generation. He understood the reproducibility of the medium, utilizing it to elevate the status of artistic prints and posters as a mass commodity.
This impression of At the Renaissance: Sarah Bernhardt in "Phedre" highlights Toulouse-Lautrec’s unique ability to achieve both immediacy and psychological depth through minimal means. It remains an important piece of late nineteenth-century performance documentation and is held within the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its age and historical importance, this work is often featured in records documenting art from the public domain, making it accessible for art history research and appreciation.
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