Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a painter and printmaker who dominated the Belle Époque period in France in the second half of the 19th century. Based in Montmartre, Paris, he established his reputation by depicting the decadent world of pleasure at the time, including cabarets and the dancers, singers, and prostitutes who gathered there, with a keen eye for observation and a unique sense of color. He is particularly known as a pioneer of poster art , and his innovative works are said to be the origins of modern graphic design.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Biography

• Born on November 24, 1864 in Albi, France, into a count's family.
• He started drawing at a young age, but suffered from a serious bone disease in his teens, which had a major impact on his life.
• In 1882, he went to Paris and studied at Léon Bonnat's art school.
• Around 1884, he set up a studio in Montmartre and began painting people in the entertainment district.
• From 1889 onwards, he created posters for cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge and rose to fame.
• In the 1890s, he also actively worked on lithographs and other printmaking.
• Died on September 9, 1901 at the Château de Malromé (aged 36)

Representative works

• Moulin Rouge: La Goulue (1891)
• Divan Japonais (1892-1893)
• Aristide Bruant in his Cabaret (1892)
• At the Moulin de la Galette (1889)

The Art of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's art strongly reflects the decadent atmosphere of Belle Époque Paris, especially Montmartre . He portrayed people living on the fringes of society, such as cabaret dancers, singers, and prostitutes, with his keen observational eye, unique line drawings, and vivid colors. In particular, his lithograph posters captivated Parisians of the time with their innovative composition and design, and brought about a revolution in advertising art. He has also been noted for the influence of Japanese art , especially ukiyo-e, which can be seen in his bold compositions and flat use of colors.

The influence and later recognition of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Despite his short life, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec had a great influence on artists of later generations. In particular, he contributed greatly to the development of poster art and is considered a pioneer of modern graphic design. His unique portrayal of people and sense of color also influenced 20th century artists such as Pablo Picasso . Today, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is highly regarded as one of the leading painters of late 19th century France, and keywords such as " Belle Époque ," " Montmartre ," " Moulin Rouge ," " poster art ," and " lithograph " are important elements in understanding his art. His works are housed in museums around the world and continue to fascinate many people even today.