Jane Hading

Jane Hading is a sophisticated portrait created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898. This fine print utilizes the specific technique of crayon lithography, executed on a distinctive greenish brown laid paper, a technical choice that imparts a warm, slightly muted tonality characteristic of fin-de-siècle Parisian prints.

The subject, Jane Hading (1859-1941), was a highly celebrated French actress known for her magnetic stage presence in society plays and melodramas. Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the prominent figures, particularly the women, associated with the Parisian theater and cabaret scene. In this example of printmaking, he captures Hading with minimal detail, emphasizing the contour of her face and the distinctive shape of her hat, employing the expressive line work that defined his aesthetic approach to portraits.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s economy of line achieves both immediacy and psychological depth, presenting the actress not just as a celebrity figure, but as an individual personality. His command of the lithographic process is evident in the subtle texture and shading rendered by the crayon, demonstrating why his prints remain cornerstone examples of the medium. This significant work capturing the cultural milieu of the Belle Époque resides within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Access to high-quality reproductions and prints of this artwork is frequently facilitated by public domain initiatives.