Who painted Cléo de Mérode?

Cléo de Mérode was painted by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896.

Where can I see Cléo de Mérode?

Cléo de Mérode is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Cléo de Mérode?

Cléo de Mérode is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Cléo de Mérode

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , 1896

Cléo de Mérode is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Cléo de Mérode is a 1896 lithograph on Japan paper by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, depicting the eponymous dancer in a casual, intimate setting.

Subject & Meaning

The print focuses on Cléo de Mérode, a performer, aligning with Toulouse-Lautrec's fascination with Paris's theatrical and nightlife figures of the late 19th century. The composition, featuring the subject with her back turned and another figure in the background, both facing away, suggests a moment of quiet, everyday life rather than a staged performance.

Technique & Style

Executed in quick, rough lines, the lithograph exhibits a spontaneous, sketch-like quality, characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec's ability to capture personality in swift, direct drawings. The use of lithography allowed for an immediate translation of his spontaneous draftsmanship into print.

History & Provenance

Created in 1896, during Toulouse-Lautrec's prolific period of capturing Parisian nightlife and performers. Specific provenance details are not provided.

Context

This work reflects the artist's immersion in late 19th-century Paris's artistic and theatrical circles, where figures like Cléo de Mérode were central to the city's vibrant cultural scene.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of *Cléo de Mérode* are not outlined, it contributes to Toulouse-Lautrec's broader impact on early 20th-century printmaking and the documentation of Paris's fin-de-siècle culture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

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.