Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was the enfant terrible of the art world in fin de
siècle Paris.

The father of today’s modern poster, Toulouse-Lautrec lived a decadent and
bohemian lifestyle in the city which, at the time, was a magnet for young artists
from all over the world. He shot to fame becoming one of the most influential
artists of his generation, thanks to this iconic image:

His inspiration? The Moulin Rouge, a place that he knew well and he regularly
frequented. A place where he would find refuge and inspiration to create the
most fascinating paintings, which remain until today, as symbols imbued with 
the true spirit of Paris’ belle époque.

But it wasn’t all sex, drugs, art and rock and roll Moulin Rouge for this chap,
as his life,  just like the life of many other noble aristocrats, was tainted.

Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa (I know!) grew up in Albi
in the Pyrénées region of France. He was the last of the line of an Aristocratic
French Family, which dated back a thousand years! Generations of inbreeding
running through his noble blood, caused him to suffer from a number of health
problems throughout his life, which went on to alter his appearance noticeably,
especially during his adulthood.

He fractured both of his thigh bones during his teens and the breaks never healed
properly, so his legs stopped growing as a result, however his torso continued to 
grow, disproportioning his body completely. Toulouse-Lautrec grew to be only 1.5
meters tall.

Unable to take part on most physical activities of boys his age when he was young,
he retreated from the world and immersed himself into his art.

In 1882 Toulouse-Lautrec moved to Paris and went on to study art under the watchful eye
of Leon Bonnat and later, Fernand Cormon. He  made friendships with fellow artists, such as
Emile Bernard and van Gogh. Lautrec and his friends would go on to develop a new style of
painting that is known today as Post-Impressionism.

Bonnat -his teacher- encouraged his pupils to roam the streets of gay Pah-ree, 
looking  for subjects to paint. This timely coincided with Toulouse-Lautrec’s first
encounter with a prostitute, which led him on to make his very first paintings of
the prostitutes of Montmartre.

He was very inspired by the work of impressionist painters, such as Degas and
Mannet, but his freedom of colour, form and line pushed this style forwards.
His focus on contemporary subjects, strong diagonal lines and solid colours
and the rawness of his main subject matter, catapulted him to become one of
the most influential artists of his generation.

Lautrec became obsessed with Montmartre and its cabarets, and it was in those days
that a new cabaret opened nearby called: Moulin Rouge.

Opening its doors to the public in 1889, Moulin Rouge quickly became the most famous
of all cabarets in Paris, and it came to be, not only Toulouse-Lautrec’s fountain of never-ending
plaisir and inspiration, but also what contributed the most to the development of his work.

His paintings of the Moulin Rouge created between 1892 and 1895 show us the artist at the
height of his glory and they are among  the greatest works of art of  the Post-Impressionist era.

Montmatre, and in particular, his beloved Moulin Rouge became his muse, his lifestyle
and ultimately, what came to define his career. But they also led him to his final years
in a secured mental hospital and later on, to his death.

I am fascinated by Lautrec’s late circus drawings, which he produced during his stay at
the mental hospital to proof his sanity to the doctors. I love the fact that he drew and
painted circus images, stripped from the Can-Can dancers, drinks and prostitutes from
the Moulin Rouge, in an attempt to prove his “cleanliness”- me thinks.

Now, if you know the Moulin Rouge, you’ll know that the place was embedded with a 
strong circus ambience… it was a marvellous and extravagant place which he totally
adored. So when I look at his circus men and women, I can’t help but see the people at
the Moulin Rouge in them… even the dancers seem to be there, hiding, disguised behind
the circus props, to try help him escape from his prison.

But if you look at them carefully, you can even hear the Can-Can dancers’ screams…

The superb series of pictures convinced the doctors that Lautrec was “sane” and
in May 1899 he was released.

He went back to painting after that but his work became apparently moody and
downbeat, nothing like the colorful and spirited images that he produced at his
peak, during his time at the Moulin Rouge.

He suffered a stroke shortly after and died aged just 36.

As one of the greatest artists of his generation, Lautrec gave us the most beautiful
and provocative images, which remain until today as the finest pieces of art that
truly capture the spirit of that age. Vive Toulouse-Lautrec!

I wonder what he would paint today if he had a chance to come along with me
and see the fabulous Cabaret Rouge ladies, the gorgeous burlesque stars and all
the other fantastic and dazzling acts at “London’s very own Moulin Rouge“:
The Wam Bam Club at Cafe de Paris.

Come along and be inspired too by the girls’ hypnotizing Can-Can dances and fall in
love too with the best burlesque and cabaret show in London, The Wam Bam Club!

(and no, you don’t have to be an French aristocrat artist for that!)

You can book your tickets for next Saturday’s fabulous Wam Bam Club show here.

*Can-can screams*

xoxo
Nonita