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Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , 1898

Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt, by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1898
Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt, by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1898

Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt is a print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.
2000.59
Credit line
Gift of Charlotte Trenkamp in memory of Henry Trenkamp Jr.

About this work

Overview

Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt is a 1898 lithograph by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, featuring a portrait of the renowned actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts Sarah Bernhardt in a contemplative profile, her face blurred and directed to the left, conveying a sense of introspection. As part of a series on theatrical figures, it reflects Toulouse-Lautrec's ties to Paris's bohemian and theatrical circles.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithograph, the piece showcases Toulouse-Lautrec's expressive use of loose brushstrokes for the dress, soft curves for hair, and a contrast between a light background and darker, suggestive forms, though the described 'blurred face' and 'brushstrokes' may indicate a mix of lithographic technique and interpretive description.

History & Provenance

Created in 1898, the lithograph is characteristic of Toulouse-Lautrec's late 19th-century output, which often captured Paris's vibrant nightlife and theatrical personalities. Specific provenance details are not provided.

Context

This work is set within the broader context of Toulouse-Lautrec's fascination with Parisian nightlife and his association with bohemian and theatrical communities, influencing his artistic focus on such figures as Sarah Bernhardt.

Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Anna Held
Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Anna Held, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Artist & collection

Portrait of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

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.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt?

Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt was painted by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1898.

Where can I see Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt?

Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt?

Portraits of Actors and Actresses: Thirteen Lithographs: Sarah Bernhardt is associated with Impressionism.