Rejane and Galipaux in "Madame Sans-Gêne" (Réjane et Galipaux dans "Madame Sans-Gêne")

Rejane and Galipaux in "Madame Sans-Gêne" (Réjane et Galipaux dans "Madame Sans-Gêne") is a lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1894. This striking print, rendered in black ink on velin paper, exemplifies the artist's unwavering dedication to chronicling the vibrant, often hidden, social and theatrical life of fin-de-siècle Paris. The choice of the lithograph medium was strategic; it allowed Toulouse-Lautrec to quickly capture the essence of performance and mass-produce images of his famous subjects for broad dissemination among the French public.

The period from 1876 to 1900 witnessed the height of the Belle Époque and the development of modern graphic arts, an environment where Toulouse-Lautrec thrived as a central figure. The subject of this work, the actress Réjane (Gabrielle-Charlotte Réju), was one of the era’s most celebrated personalities, particularly renowned for her stage presence in comedic and dramatic roles. Here, she is depicted alongside the actor Galipaux, likely costumed for the hit Victorien Sardou play, Madame Sans-Gêne, which had premiered the previous year. The lithograph preserves not just the likeness of the performers but also the dramatic intensity and energy that characterized popular Parisian theater.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s aesthetic approach is evident in the economical use of line and shadow, which define the figures through essential forms. This classification of the work as a print demonstrates the mastery with which the artist used tonal contrasts, allowing the texture of the velin paper to inform the image’s depth. The quick, sketch-like quality captures a moment in time, contributing to the visual history of the period. This specific impression of Rejane and Galipaux in "Madame Sans-Gêne" resides within the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, representing a key contribution to modern French graphic arts.