Sarah Bernhardt, from Treize Lithographies

Sarah Bernhardt, from Treize Lithographies is a significant print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) in 1898. This evocative work, rendered as a lithograph on cream wove paper, exemplifies Toulouse-Lautrec’s profound mastery of the print medium. His graphic style was instrumental in documenting the turbulent and vibrant social and theatrical life of fin-de-siècle France. Lithography allowed Lautrec to capture the immediate energy and distinct character of his subjects with a rapid, expressive line, often blurring the line between traditional fine art and commercial illustration.

The subject of this specific print is the globally recognized French actress Sarah Bernhardt, known during her lifetime as the “Divine Sarah.” Lautrec frequently focused on portraits of performers and personalities of the Parisian stage, utilizing his characteristic, observational perspective to capture their essence rather than merely producing formal likenesses. This image forms part of a larger published series, Treize Lithographies, further demonstrating the artist’s continued commitment to the format of prints even late in his career. The depiction of Bernhardt is a powerful document of the essential role that celebrity and theater played in late nineteenth-century French culture.

This important work by Toulouse-Lautrec is carefully preserved in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it contributes to the museum’s extensive holdings of modern French prints. The classification of the piece as a lithographic print underscores the innovative ways in which the artist disseminated his art to a wider public audience. As a valuable historical document of the Belle Époque, this piece represents a high point in late nineteenth-century graphic art production. Given its cultural significance, high-quality images of this masterful piece are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to the influential techniques pioneered by Lautrec.