Madame Réjane

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley|Madame Gabrielle Réjane

1894 · Pen and carbon black ink, brush and carbon black wash · Drawings and Prints

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.

Artist

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley|Madame Gabrielle Réjane

Date

1894

Medium

Pen and carbon black ink, brush and carbon black wash

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1952