Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec was a famous artist born in 1864 who specialized in posters for the Moulin Rouge night club. He was ten years old when he started to paint and draw. Between the ages of twelve and fourteen, he broke both of his legs at different times and because they did not heal properly he was handicapped for life. He refused to let this interfere with his enjoying life – he loved night clubs, cabaret entertainment, circuses, fairs, and alcohol. Often he would be seen in a public place drinking and talking while creating quick sketches that would be expanded into brightly colored paintings the next day. He died in 1901 because of health problems related to alcohol.

 Toulouse-Lautrec’s purpose with this work/ad/poster is to encourage people to come and join in the fun at a masked, concert/ball at the Moulin Rouge.

His audience is the open public – anyone who would be interested or has nothing better to do.

He enjoyed this kind of entertainment and company and obviously had no problem with the lifestyle he led. What reasoning would he have to discourage people from this venue of entertainment if they choose it? Actions speak louder than words.

The media of this poster is a lithograph in four colors. The woman, La Goulue, was a famous cabaret dancer at the Moulin Rouge. Her position and/or dance would have been viewed as slightly risqué for that time period letting people instantly know what kind of place they were going to.