Henri deToulouse-Lautrec,

Henri deToulouse-Lautrec, (1864-1901)
French post-impressionist painter, lithographer, and illustrator, who was well-known for documenting the bohemian nightlife of late-19th-century Paris.

The Divan Japonais, a cabaret in Montmartre, an artists' quarter in Paris, was newly redecorated in 1893 with fashionable Japanese motifs and lanterns. Its owner, Édouard Fournier, commissioned this poster—depicting singers, dancers, and patrons—from Toulouse-Lautrec in an attempt to attract customers to the opening of his nightclub.

As discussed in out reading assignment this week, lithographed posters proliferated during the 1890s due to technical advances in color printing and the relaxation of laws restricting the placement of posters. Dance halls, café-concerts, and festive street life invigorated nighttime activities. Toulouse-Lautrec's brilliant posters which were made as advertisements.

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec - "At the Moulin Rouge", 1892/1895

The lithographs of Toulouse Lautrec show the famous personalities of the French night scene. Toulouse Lautrec knew his subjects all personally (singers, dancers, etc) as he was part of their crowd.

Many of his lithographs were commissioned for posters or theater billboards or as illustrations for magazines.

Like many othe artists of the late nineteenth century, Lautrec was impressed by Japanese woodblock art At that time, everything Japanese was very fashionable. Japanese printmaking had a very pervasive influence on his style. Toulouse Lautrec's compositions, unusual perspectives and the use of large areas of flat color were inspired by Japanese prints.

Loutrec was also inspired by the people and lifestyles offered restaurants, actors, theaters and brothels. His commissioned work came from prints and posters that were used as an advertising medium for theater plays or newly opened tea houses, and bars.

Loutrec lived a medically saddened life. He was born in Albi into an aristocratic family. He broke both legs as an adolescent, and because of a congenital calcium deficiency, they remained stunted for the rest of his life. During his convalescence, his mother encouraged him to paint. In 1899 he had a severe nervous breakdown and is confined to a clinic for three months. The final days of his life were spent in the castle residence of his mother following a stroke with a subsequent partial paralysis.Henri de Toulouse Lautrec died at the age of 36 on September 9, 1899.

For each entry in your blog, write one paragraph describing your selection:

* Describe what it is- 2 posters made by Henri de Toulouse Lautrec
* Describe its function- at the time, advertisements
* Describe where you saw it- it's all over the place, books, internet etc.
* Discuss the style of the design & typography- Japanese influenced art nouveau
* Discuss the quality of the artwork- inspiring to his peers
* Discuss what attracted you to the piece- I've been exposed to his work over my lifetime.