Artwork
Madame Réjane
Madame Réjane is a print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Madame Réjane is a portrait print created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1899, featuring a woman prominently associated with the Parisian stage, characteristic of the artist's focus on the city's entertainment figures.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Madame Réjane, is depicted with a confident, soft-smiled expression, and a distinctive wide-brimmed hat, implying a persona accustomed to public scrutiny, likely a performer given the context of Toulouse-Lautrec's oeuvre.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, rapid strokes, the sketch emphasizes the subject's facial expression and hat, set against a minimally defined background, highlighting Toulouse-Lautrec's ability to capture essence with economy of detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1899 by Toulouse-Lautrec, an artist intimately connected to Paris's theatrical and bohemian circles, the work reflects his penchant for portraying luminaries of the era's vibrant entertainment scene.
Context
Emerging from late 19th-century Paris, Madame Réjane situates itself within the broader artistic movement of capturing the city's dynamic cultural and theatrical landscape, akin to Impressionist interests in modern life.
Legacy
As part of Toulouse-Lautrec's body of work focused on performers, Madame Réjane contributes to the artist's lasting legacy of documenting Paris's late 19th-century entertainment world through concise, expressive portraits.
Artist & collection
Artist
Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.
