Some might consider museums to be boring. However, it’s because you haven’t given it a chance. It can be very interesting and well worth the price, especially when the art on display is as beautiful as the ones the Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: The Birth of Modern Paris exhibited at the Dayton Art Institute (DAI).
Before we get to the art, let’s look at the artist. De Toulouse-Lautrec would be remembered for his art depicting the French capital. He painted primarily from 1879-1901. In 1885 he moved to the Montmartre district of Paris to immerse himself in the city’s vibrant nightlife. The painter would distinguish himself by showing empathy and humor throughout his work as well as for depicting scenes from cabarets, theaters, dance halls and brothels. He was driven primarily by a desire to portray real Parisians enjoying the city at night.
Among his more notable works are a series of Moulin Rouge cabaret posters. Many depict French dance Jane Avril, the most iconic featuring the woman performing her famous ‘can-can’ kick which would later become a signature dance move in cabarets around the world.
Jane Avril is depicted performing her famous can-can kick. Photo Credit: Oona Ngabonziza
His first work was also about the Moulin Rouge but was painting of people having a nice time in this café. It would bring the artist instant fame and make him famous virtually overnight.
Toulouse-Lautrec made 30 posters in his lifetime in addition to illustrating theater programs, book covers, menus, invitations, and sheet music. He did not make a distinction between commercial and fine art. His expressive use of line found the perfect medium in lithography. He displayed posters alongside oil paintings in exhibitions in France and across Europe. This artist was a hard worker who produced an enormous body of work in a wide range of media. Today he has his own museum in his birthplace of Albi, France.
Oona Ngabonziza, Reporter and Distribution Coordinator
(Featured Image from Canva)