The work Madame Réjane is a lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898. Printed on wove paper, this piece captures an insightful and dynamic portrait of the celebrated Parisian actress Gabrielle Réjane (1856-1920). As a master printmaker and documentarian of the fin-de-siècle entertainment scene, Toulouse-Lautrec frequently documented the famous performers who dominated the stages of Montmartre and beyond. Réjane, known for her expressive, naturalistic acting style, was one of his favorite subjects.
Lautrec utilized the medium of color lithography extensively, refining its application not only for large-scale advertising posters but also for more intimate character studies like this one. His technique is marked by an economy of line and a profound emphasis on psychological presence, prioritizing the character and essence of the subject over strict academic detail. The artist's distinctive style allows him to capture the magnetic stage presence that made Réjane one of the most famous women in Europe during the 1890s.
This exceptional example of French graphic arts is classified as a fine print and currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lautrec’s unique contribution to portraiture lies in his sensitive yet often unvarnished depictions of modern women in public roles. While this work is housed within a major institutional collection, the artist’s prolific output of prints from this period ensures that many of his masterpieces are accessible to researchers and the public today, sometimes through public domain initiatives.
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