Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born at the Chateau de Malromé near Albi, Tarn in France to an aristocratic family descended from the Counts of Toulouse and Lautrec and the Viscounts of Montfa. Health problems stemming from his parents being first cousins plagued him throughout his life, and childhood injuries that fractured both thighs left him permanently stunted. Despite these challenges, his artistic talent flourished early, beginning with informal drawing lessons focused on horses. In 1882, he moved to Paris to study art seriously, establishing a studio in Montmartre by 1885.
Toulouse-Lautrec exhibited at the Salon des Independants in 1889 and with Les XX in Brussels, but his 1891 posters brought him immediate recognition. His color lithographs became his true masterpieces, and he proved extraordinarily prolific during his ten years as a printmaker. He held exhibitions in Paris, Brussels, and London, where he met Oscar Wilde and Beardsley, and traveled to Holland, Portugal, and Spain. Influenced by Degas and Japanese prints, he painted scenes from Montmartre dance halls and cafes like the Moulin Rouge, capturing actresses, circus performers, and everyday life with remarkable economy of line and movement.
His 368 lithographs, drypoints, monotypes and posters established him as a master of Post-Impressionism, and his works are represented by Park West Gallery. Excessive drinking led to his decline, and he passed away in 1901 at age 37. His works are held in major museums worldwide, including the Tate and Courtauld Institute in London, the Museum de l’Impressionisme in Paris, and the National Gallery in Washington, DC.