Toulouse-Lautrec: Colorful Artist—Colorful Life

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - The Two Girlfriends -1894 - Oil on cardboard - 48 x 34.5 cm - Musee Toulouse-Lautrec, Albi (click photo for larger image)Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) was a French artist who both depicted and narrated the life he inhabited—in late 19th-century dance halls, cabarets, and theaters. “In such prominent clubs as the Moulin Rouge and less reputable institutions like the Moulin de la Galette, aristocrats often rubbed shoulders with the working class.” These environments became the subject matter for Toulouse-Lautrec. His use of free-flowing, expressive line, often becoming pure arabesque, resulted in highly rhythmical compositions. The extreme simplification in outline and movement, and the use of large color areas, make his posters some of his most powerful works. 

There are numerous works by this artist in MoMA’s permanent collection. I’ll be delivering a presentation on Toulouse-Lautrec for the Center of Continuing Education Larchmont-Mamaroneck on October 13, 2016. Please register if you want to learn more about this fascinating man—and prepare yourself for visiting his work!