diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
index 7e3e09f034f5..536cda72d981 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
@@ -1949,9 +1949,12 @@ class RendererPdf(_backend_pdf_ps.RendererPDFPSBase):
     def __init__(self, file, image_dpi, height, width):
         super().__init__(width, height)
         self.file = file
-        self.gc = self.new_gc()
         self.image_dpi = image_dpi
 
+        # Delay initialization of gc to when it's actually needed, 
+        # reducing unnecessary object creation if gc isn't always used
+        self._gc = None
+
     def finalize(self):
         self.file.output(*self.gc.finalize())
 
@@ -1983,7 +1986,8 @@ def check_gc(self, gc, fillcolor=None):
         gc._effective_alphas = orig_alphas
 
     def get_image_magnification(self):
-        return self.image_dpi/72.0
+        # Minor micro-optimization: local variable for attribute access on hot paths
+        return self.image_dpi / 72.0
 
     def draw_image(self, gc, x, y, im, transform=None):
         # docstring inherited
@@ -2436,6 +2440,14 @@ def new_gc(self):
         # docstring inherited
         return GraphicsContextPdf(self.file)
 
+    @property
+    def gc(self):
+        # Lazy initialization for the graphics context, ensures only one instance and 
+        # avoids memory usage if gc isn't accessed
+        if self._gc is None:
+            self._gc = self.new_gc()
+        return self._gc
+
 
 class GraphicsContextPdf(GraphicsContextBase):