Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

Born on November 24, 1864 Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa earned is fame as a French painter, draughtsman, and illustrator. He immersed himself in the theatrical life of Paris and created a compilation of incendiary images of the decadent life of Paris in the 1800s. Toulouse-Lautrec is listed among the well-known painters of the Post-Impressionist period. In 2005 on of Toulouse-Lautrec's painting sold for US$22.4 million.

Toulouse-Lautrec's early life was immersed in the aristocracy and he spent his childhood drawing sketches and caricatures. Lautrec was a sickly boy due to aristocratic inbreeding and indulgence. The ages of 13 and 14 found Lautrec with broken legs that did not heal properly. As a result he was very short and unable to participate in manly activities.

After his art studies concluded in 1887 he exhibited his painting in a show arranged by Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh's brother bought Poudre de Riz for 150 francs for his art gallery. During 1889 and 1894 Toulouse Lautrec was a high part of the Independent Artists' Salon. He painted landscapes of Montmartre as well as several paintings of Carmen Gaudin. The Moulin Rouge cabaret commissioned a series of posters for their opening which gave him a regular income. He painted Louise Weber who created the French Can-Can and his posters became artworks in and of themselves.

Henri's career was a mere 20 years and he created 737 canvases, 275 watercolors, 363 prints and posters, as well as 5,084 drawings and ceramic and stained glass work. His style was influenced by the classical woodprints from Japan and he excelled at capturing individuals as well as crowd scenes.

Henri died on September 1, 1901 at the age of 36 from complications due to alcoholism and syphilis. His mother contributed to a museum to house his works The Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, the repository of most of his paintings.