8 Years Ago

Happy Birthday Henri

Happy birthday, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901)!
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born into French aristocracy. His parents were in-bred first-cousins so he suffered a congenital condition stunting his growth. As a youth, the artist moved to Paris’s Montmartre region where he befriended and depicted the local denizens. His canvases hung on the cabaret walls, his posters on the lamp posts. The Moulin Rouge had a seat permanently reserved for him. He would live in brothels for weeks at a time, recording the prostitutes’ intimate (often lesbian) relations. The artist died at just 36 years old from complications relating to alcoholism and syphilis, but not before becoming an important Post-Impressionist painter and lithographer.

Is your life as colorful?

Photo: TotallyHistory

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Stephen Charles

8 Years Ago

Half of what makes an artist's work more valuable in terms of money is the life they lived. They other factor is a pedigree of upper-middle class or upper-class wealth somewhere in their families. An early Toulouse Lautrec painting of a young laundress, sold for US$22.4 million. Do you come from an upper-middle class family, like smoking opium, drinking large quantities of Absinthe and hanging out with prostitutes?

Danl Art

8 Years Ago

From an upper class family. Drinking brandy. Smoking a pipe. Still communicating with prostitutes.

Edward Fielding

8 Years Ago

As colorful - no. More meaningful - yes.

David Bridburg

8 Years Ago

I have no need to compare my life to anyone else's.

I hope his life was more colorful, but either way my pants go on one leg at a time.

Dave

Danl Art

8 Years Ago

Dave-

Try putting your pants on both legs at a time....That would suggest some sort of prodigious leap...the type of leap every artist needs to get noticed.

Val Arie

8 Years Ago

I have always love his work...among my favorites.

No my life has not been as colorful as his!

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