Cléo de Mérode from Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs (Portraits d'Acteurs & Actrices: Treize Lithographies)

Cléo de Mérode from Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs (Portraits d'Acteurs & Actrices: Treize Lithographies) is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898. This work is one of thirteen images that comprise a portfolio dedicated to profiling the major personalities of the contemporary Parisian stage. The artist utilized lithography, a medium he profoundly influenced, valuing its capacity for nuance and its suitability for rapid dissemination among art collectors.

The subject, Cléo de Mérode, was an internationally famous French dancer whose distinctive, elegant public persona captivated the press and defined celebrity culture during the Belle Époque. This specific image, dating from the end of the artist’s career, demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec's mature style, characterized by psychological insight and an economy of line. Unlike his earlier, often boisterous posters, this portrait offers a more subtle, introspective view of the performer, utilizing delicate shading and focused composition.

The production of comprehensive portfolios of fine art prints, such as Portraits d'Acteurs & Actrices, helped elevate printmaking from a purely commercial activity to a respected fine art classification in the late nineteenth century. Toulouse-Lautrec’s dedication to this medium solidified his position not only as a crucial chronicler of Parisian life but also as a master printmaker. This important French lithograph is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Reflecting the historical importance of works from this period, many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s iconic images created around 1898 are now part of the public domain, allowing wide access to his legacy.