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Madame Réjane

Sitter Portrait of Madame Gabrielle Réjane French
1894
Not on view
Beardsley's drawing centers on Gabrielle Réjane, a successful French acress whose London debut as Catherine in "Madame Sans Gêne" took place at the Gaiety Theatre on June 24, 1894. The artist imagines her resting on a chaise-longue and uses a filmy sweep of skirt to define the form, with deep black japoniste upholstery supporting the actress's back and feet. A strong visual contrast is established between the expanse of white paper at left, containing a few minimalist lines that describe furniture, and a dark border below which is filled is flowers but is reminiscent of the edge of a stage.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Madame Réjane
  • Artist: Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (British, Brighton, Sussex 1872–1898 Menton)
  • Sitter: Portrait of Madame Gabrielle Réjane (French, Paris 1857–1920 Paris)
  • Date: 1894
  • Medium: Pen and carbon black ink, brush and carbon black wash
  • Dimensions: sheet: 14 x 9 1/16 in. (35.6 x 23 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1952
  • Object Number: 52.64
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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