Paula Brébion (from Le Café Concert) (1893, Met-Objekt 788)
Original title: Paula Brébion (from Le Café Concert)
kurzbeschreibung
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made this lithograph, Paula Brébion, in 1893 as part of the series Le Café Concert. It shows a woman from behind, reaching her right hand to her forehead to adjust her hair. The print was pulled in light olive-green on wove paper.
Description
A woman seen from the back dominates the image: her top leaves her shoulders and back bare, and her hair is gathered into a bun. Her right hand moves toward her forehead. Clear, spare contours outline the figure, while the background stays white and empty, emphasizing the silhouette. Near the bottom of the sheet is a small signet or monogram. A uniform light olive-green runs through the entire view, with no other colors or lighting effects.
Context
Toulouse-Lautrec created this lithograph for the portfolio Le Café Concert, published in 1893 by the Paris gallery Boussod, Valadon et Cie. It belongs to a series of portraits of performers from the Paris entertainment world. Paula Brébion was a singer who appeared in cafés-concerts. The portfolio was issued in an edition of 100 copies and helped make Lautrec's lithographs known.
Impact
The restriction to a single olive tone and the empty space direct the eye straight to the figure's posture and gesture. The back view creates an intimate, observing distance characteristic of Lautrec's portraits. The simple linework gives the sheet a modern, poster-like presence.
Technique
This is a brush lithograph, printed in only one state on wove paper. A light olive-green, applied directly to the stone with a brush, defines the color. This approach allows flowing, expressive contours that recall a quick sketch.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)