Cléo de Mérode

Cléo de Mérode is a renowned lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896. This French print captures the famous Parisian dancer and beauty icon of the Belle Époque, demonstrating the artist’s skill in rendering celebrity portraiture for mass circulation. Utilizing the technique of a lithograph in black on delicate China paper, Toulouse-Lautrec achieved a highly graphic quality, perfectly suited to the quick, observational style that defined his career.

Produced during the critical period spanning 1876 to 1900, this work exemplifies the fin-de-siècle obsession with theater, fashion, and public persona. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the performers and personalities of the Parisian nightlife, often focusing on figures whose images circulated widely through popular media and posters. The composition reflects the artist's unique ability to capture character with immediacy, employing simplified forms and strong linear elements characteristic of his mature output. While many of the artist’s prints were conceived as advertisements, this particular work serves as an intimate study, emphasizing the subject’s striking profile and iconic coiled hairstyle.

As a significant example of prints from this era, the execution on China paper enhances the nuanced textures and rich, velvety blacks inherent to the lithographic process. The choice of black ink emphasizes form and silhouette over color, reinforcing the subject’s dramatic presence. Toulouse-Lautrec was instrumental in elevating printmaking from a reproductive craft to a major artistic medium in the late 19th century. This important representation of French visual culture resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, providing critical insight into the visual dialogue between artists and their celebrity subjects. Due to its historical importance, this work is widely referenced and high-resolution images are frequently available through public domain art collections.