Réjane and Galipaux, in Madame Sans-Géne

Réjane and Galipaux, in Madame Sans-Géne by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1893, captures a pivotal moment in Parisian theatrical history. The piece is a crayon lithograph printed in black ink on wove paper, representing the sole state of this highly sought-after print. The work depicts the celebrated actress Réjane (Juliette Pidéret) alongside the actor Galipaux in character during their production of Victorien Sardou and Émile Moreau’s smash-hit comedy, Madame Sans-Gêne. Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for his ability to translate the vibrant energy of the Fin-de-siècle stage onto paper, focusing keenly on the distinctive personalities of the women and men who dominated the entertainment world.

This specific lithograph exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s sophisticated mastery of the medium. By utilizing the crayon technique, the artist achieves a painterly spontaneity, allowing the rich black ink to convey deep shadow and texture while retaining the immediacy of a rapid sketch. The composition focuses intimately on the figures, highlighting the dynamic interaction between the two performers. As a commercial and artistic form, prints like this were crucial in disseminating the images of popular stage figures across Europe. Toulouse-Lautrec’s contributions elevated the status of the reproductive print, cementing his legacy in the graphic arts.

The quality and rarity of these early prints make them essential records of nineteenth-century performance culture. This work is classified specifically as a print and resides in the robust collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the age and enduring artistic relevance of works like Réjane and Galipaux, in Madame Sans-Géne, high-resolution images of many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s graphic achievements are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, allowing global access to his critical observations of Parisian artistic and social life.