![]() ![]() He went on to create his first poster for the Moulin Rouge in 1891, which would become one of the most famous representations of the cabaret to date.ĭid you know? Today the Moulin Rouge even has a lounge called the Salon Toulouse-Lautrec, in honour of the artist himself. Each evening he would attend the performances there, capturing every moment with precision. But she wasn’t the only one to catch the painter’s eye, with the Moulin Rouge itself fast becoming his muse. She was famous for her energetic French Cancan and for her habit of finishing customers’ drinks after every show. From the moment the Moulin Rouge opened its doors, this dancer was an instant hit with the Parisian public. It was during one of his café visits that he succumbed to the charms of a woman called Louise Weber, who also went by the nickname of La Goulue (The Glutton). He enjoyed bringing out the different personalities around him in his artwork. He frequented Parisian cabarets such as Le Mirliton, Le Chat Noir, Le Moulin de la Galette and L’Elysée-Montmartre. He made a point of capturing every moment with truthfulness. The young artist wanted to shine a spotlight on life in this bohemian neighbourhood that inspired him so much. From the age of 20, he became fully immersed in Montmartre life. Indeed, Japanese objects and works of art were one of Toulouse-Lautrec’s main sources of inspiration.Ī few years later he moved to the foot of the Butte Montmartre with two of his friends, where they took up residence at 19 bis rue Fontaine. ![]() This artistic movement was first dubbed Japonism by art critic Philippe Burty. He would read Balzac, wander the streets of Paris, visit museums and cafes and develop a fondness for an in-vogue movement at the time, Japonism. He drew his inspiration from it, and his own personal culture continued to grow. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec particularly enjoyed soaking up this Parisian atmosphere. This also gave him the opportunity to strike up friendships with several young painters, including one now recognised all over the world, Vincent Van Gogh. It was in Montmartre, this hive of artistic activity, that Toulouse-Lautrec went on to meet other great creators such as Léon Bonnat and Fernand Cormon. The time they shared left a lasting impact on both men’s lives and this would later be reflected in their artwork. He became his first master and helped make his dream a reality. His father introduced him to one of his friends, René Princeteau, a French painter known for his equestrian paintings. It was after failing his baccalaureate exams in Toulouse that young Henri, determined to become an artist, decided to return to Paris. He would stay at Château de Malromé and Celeyran on several occasions and produce various works with horses as the subject, including ‘ l’ Artilleur sellant son cheval’ (The mounted artilleryman saddling his horse), ‘ Cheval blanc Gazelle’ (The white horse ‘Gazelle’) and ‘ Cavalier Monsieur du Passage’ (Rider Mr. As this meant he was unable to pursue horse-riding and hunting in the footsteps of his father, Count Alphonse de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa, horses became the source of inspiration for his watercolour paintings. It was following an accident at the age of 14 that he found out he had a degenerative bone disease. ![]() Firstly, his size – this surprised a lot of people! He was 4’10” tall, crippled and had a limp. When his parents – both aristocrats – separated several years after he was born, he uprooted to Paris with his mother in 1872.īut who really was Toulouse-Lautrec? It’s surprising, but at the time he wasn’t only known for his works of art – he was also known for his unusual appearance, which made a lasting impression on many members of the Moulin Rouge audience. He didn’t always live in the south of France, though. While his unusual and eventful life was characterised by spells of conviviality and togetherness, it was also punctuated with periods of suffering and solitude.īorn on 24th November 1864, this man from Albi dedicated most of his life to drawing and painting. He was a free man, intent on leading a happy and fantastical life. There was nothing that anti-conformist and lover of life and women Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec disliked more than narrow-minded and prejudiced views. ![]()
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