Paula Brébion

Paula Brébion is a significant lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1893. As a master of the print medium, Toulouse-Lautrec utilized the lithographic process to capture the vibrant, ephemeral character of Parisian public life in fin-de-siècle France. This technique allowed for the creation of sharply defined lines and areas of flat color, a stylistic signature influenced heavily by Japanese woodblock prints. This work is classified as a print and exemplifies the artist’s mature period when he was actively producing posters and portfolio images for a burgeoning commercial art market.

The piece focuses on the actress or singer Paula Brébion, one of the many celebrities from the cafés, cabarets, and theaters that Toulouse-Lautrec immortalized. The artist employs an immediate, almost snapshot-like perspective, focusing on the character's expression and distinct silhouette rather than adhering to classical realism. Lautrec’s innovative approach to prints shifted the medium from merely reproductive to artistically expressive, making mass-produced graphic arts a powerful means of cultural documentation.

This celebrated example of French graphic art captures the energy and psychological nuance of the artist’s subjects. The lithograph is cataloged as a vital piece within Lautrec's graphic output and helps illustrate his role as a keen chronicler of modern urbanity. Given the age and historical significance of the image, prints derived from the original often fall into the public domain, ensuring wide availability for scholarly reference. The importance of the original impression is underscored by its inclusion in the prestigious collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it represents the technical mastery and cultural breadth of late 19th-century visual communication.