Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

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1882,_Toulouse-Lautrec,_The_Marble_Polisher

(Albi)_Rousse_(La_Toilette)_-_1899_-_Henri_de_Toulouse-Lautrec_-_Musée_d'Orsay,_Paris

Brooklyn_Museum_-_Woman_at_the_Tub_from_the_Portfolio_Elles_(Femme_au_Tub_)_-_Henri_de_Toulouse-Lautrec

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Henri_de_Toulouse-Lautrec_-_At_the_Moulin_Rouge_-_Google_Art_Project

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

File:Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.jpg

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1894

Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901) was a French painter, printmaker, draftsman, and illustrator whose immersion in the colorful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 19th century allowed him to produce a collection of enticing, elegant, and provocative images of the modern and sometimes decadent life of those times.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born into the aristocratic family of the Comte Alphonse and the Comtesse Adèle de Toulouse-Lautrec. He suffered from congenital health conditions, likely due to the close consanguinity of his parents, who were first cousins. At the age of 13, Toulouse-Lautrec fractured his right femur, and at 14, the left. The breaks did not heal properly, and his legs ceased to grow, while his torso continued to develop normally. As an adult, he stood at 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in).

Artistic Career[edit | edit source]

Toulouse-Lautrec moved to Paris in 1882 and began studying art under Léon Bonnat. He later studied with Fernand Cormon, where he met fellow artists such as Émile Bernard and Vincent van Gogh. He became a prominent figure in the Montmartre district of Paris, an area known for its bohemian lifestyle and the haunt of artists, writers, and philosophers.

Toulouse-Lautrec is best known for his depictions of the Moulin Rouge and other cabarets and theatres in Paris. His works include paintings, posters, and prints, often portraying the vibrant and sometimes sordid life of the city's nightlife. His style was influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, and he is often associated with the Art Nouveau movement.

Notable Works[edit | edit source]

Some of Toulouse-Lautrec's most famous works include:

Health and Death[edit | edit source]

Toulouse-Lautrec's health was always fragile, and he struggled with alcoholism for much of his life. He was admitted to a sanatorium in 1899 but continued to work until his health deteriorated further. He died on 9 September 1901 at the family estate, the Château Malromé, at the age of 36.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is remembered as one of the most influential artists of the late 19th century. His works provide a vivid portrayal of the bohemian lifestyle of Paris during the Belle Époque. His innovative use of color and composition has had a lasting impact on the development of modern art.