Artwork
Paula Brébion
Paula Brébion is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Paula Brébion is a 1893 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in olive green on velin paper. It is a print depicting a woman in a café setting.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph shows a woman sitting alone at a table, lost in thought. She is dressed in dark attire with a white collar, and a wine bottle is hinted at on the table. The subject is likely a patron of the Moulin Rouge, a Parisian nightspot that Toulouse-Lautrec often depicted.
Technique & Style
The print is characterized by rough edges and bold lines, giving it a sense of energy and spontaneity. The simple and shadowy background focuses attention on the subject, while the olive green color adds to the overall mood of the piece.
Context
Toulouse-Lautrec was known for depicting figures from Paris's theatrical and social margins. This print is part of a series he created to advertise the Moulin Rouge, although it focuses on a more subdued moment rather than a performer or spectacle.
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.
