Who painted Mme. Réjane?

Mme. Réjane was painted by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898.

Where can I see Mme. Réjane?

Mme. Réjane is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mme. Réjane?

Mme. Réjane is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Mme. Réjane?

Museum-quality prints of Mme. Réjane are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mme. Réjane

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , 1898

Mme. Réjane is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1898 lithograph titled *Mme. Réjane* presents a brief, gestural portrait of the celebrated French actress Gabrielle Réjane. Executed in the artist’s characteristic brisk line work, the image captures the sitter’s hat and smile with minimal detail, emphasizing the immediacy of a fleeting observation rather than a formal likeness.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on Réjane, a leading figure of the Belle Époque stage, whose public persona embodied both elegance and theatrical flair. By rendering her with loose, suggestive strokes, Toulouse-Lautrec highlights the performative aspect of celebrity, suggesting that the actress’s identity is as much a costume as a personal presence.

Technique & Style

Created through lithography, the print relies on a stone or metal plate drawn with greasy media, then inked and transferred to paper. Toulouse-Lautrec’s handling of the medium is evident in the light pencil-like lines that delineate folds in the hat and clothing, conveying texture and movement with a rapid, almost sketch‑like quality.

History & Provenance

The lithograph emerged during a prolific period when the artist regularly collaborated with Parisian theatres and cabarets, documenting their stars and patrons.

The lithograph emerged during a prolific period when the artist regularly collaborated with Parisian theatres and cabarets, documenting their stars and patrons. Though the original plate’s whereabouts are undocumented, prints of *Mme. Réjane* have circulated in private collections and museum holdings, reflecting the work’s continued relevance to studies of turn‑of‑the‑century French popular culture.

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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.