Sybil Sanderson

Sybil Sanderson is a refined print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898. This sophisticated work utilizes the medium of crayon lithograph, printed onto delicate china paper, a choice that lends softness and richness to the tonal variations achieved by the artist.

The subject, Sybil Sanderson (1864-1903), was a celebrated American operatic soprano who achieved widespread fame performing in Paris during the Belle Époque. Toulouse-Lautrec was renowned for his incisive portraits of performers, dancers, and other prominent women of Parisian nightlife. His ability to capture the psychological nuance and specific personality of his subjects is evident in this piece, created just two years before the artist’s premature death.

As a master of the poster and fine art prints, Toulouse-Lautrec elevated lithography from a reproductive technique into a primary artistic classification. The use of crayon in the lithographic process allows for painterly effects and subtle shading, moving beyond the hard lines often associated with earlier printmaking. This treatment reflects the Impressionist influences on the artist’s work.

This important late work demonstrates Toulouse-Lautrec's characteristic style, favoring sharp observation over sentimentalism. The piece resides in the renowned collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Given its age and established status, images of this work are frequently available in the public domain, allowing students and researchers worldwide access to study this crucial example of fin-de-siècle portraiture.