Au théâtre
Medium
lithograph in violet-brown on japan paper
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection, gift in memory of Virginia H. Jackson
Accession Number
1996.151.204
Art Historical Context
Henri-Patrice Dillon's *Au théâtre* (1895) captures the vibrant theater culture of fin-de-siècle France through a striking lithograph in violet-brown ink on delicate japan paper. Printed during the Belle Époque, when Paris theaters like the Folies Bergère dazzled audiences with cabaret and operetta, this work reflects the era's fascination with spectacle and leisure. Dillon, a French illustrator known for his posters and prints, employs lithography—a technique perfected in the 19th century for its ability to produce rich tones and fine details directly from the artist's hand. The choice of vi...