At the Théâtre de la Renaissance: Sarah Bernhardt in Phèdre

At the Théâtre de la Renaissance: Sarah Bernhardt in Phèdre is a significant 1893 print by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, capturing the iconic French actress Sarah Bernhardt in one of her most demanding classical roles. This work is executed using a sophisticated and layered medium: a crayon, brush, and spatter lithograph printed entirely in black ink on wove paper. This technical approach demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec’s mastery of graphic arts, utilizing high contrast and gestural lines to emphasize the dramatic intensity of the subject.

Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for documenting the celebrities and demimonde of fin-de-siècle Paris, particularly the vibrant world of performance. Unlike the vibrant, colorful posters that constitute much of his commercial output, this specific series of prints focuses on the psychological state of the performer. The unconventional combination of crayon texture, visible brushwork, and spatter effects inherent to the lithograph process allowed the artist to convey atmosphere and movement rather than relying on strict realism.

Bernhardt was the quintessential woman of the French stage, and Lautrec’s intimate depiction provides a window into the visual culture of the era. He portrays the actress mid-performance, focusing on the tension and complexity of Racine’s tragic heroine, Phèdre. The intensity of the black and white medium underscores the gravity of the classical tragedy. This important work, recognized for its groundbreaking technique and historical subject matter, is part of the extensive collection of prints housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.