← Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Paula Brébion (from Le Café Concert) (1893, Met-Objekt 890)

Original title: Paula Brébion (from Le Café Concert)

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Date

1893

Medium

Brush lithograph printed in light olive green on laid japan paper; only state; from deluxe 1893 edition

Dimensions

Sheet: 17 5/16 × 12 5/8 in. (44 × 32 cm) Image: 10 5/16 × 7 3/4 in. (26.2 × 19.7 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982

kurzbeschreibung

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec portrayed the café-concert singer Paula Brébion from behind in 1893. This brush lithograph on Japan paper is reduced to essentials and printed in a light olive green.

Description

The woman is seen from the back, her right hand raised to her head. A simple top, hair tied in a bun. The drawing remains spare, with clear, simple contours, no shading or detail. The blank white ground pushes the figure fully into view. A pale green tone runs through the entire image, created by the brush lithograph.

Context

The series 'Le Café Concert' of 1893 documents life in Parisian variety theatres and cafés. Paula Brébion was a well-known singer in such venues and was portrayed by the artist several times. The lithograph appeared in a luxurious edition of 1893, suggesting an upscale collector audience. The sheet belongs to a series that captures the atmosphere of Parisian entertainment culture.

Impact

The back view and sparse lines create a calm, almost intimate mood. The unusual angle and reduced design give the view a modern, poster-like effect. The light green colouring is subtle yet allows the figure to stand out clearly.

Technique

For the brush lithograph, the artist drew with a brush and lithographic ink on the stone. It was printed in a single state with light olive green ink on Japan paper, a fine support. This technique allowed a free, painterly line that recalls a brush drawing.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)