Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a French artist who captured the nightlife of late nineteenth century Paris like no one else. Born into an aristocratic family in 1864, he suffered a condition that left his legs stunted, and he threw himself into the bohemian world of Montmartre. There he painted and drew the dancers, singers, and characters of the cabarets, above all the famous Moulin Rouge.

He revolutionized the poster, turning advertisements for cabarets and performers into bold, flat, striking works of art still copied today. His quick, incisive line caught personality and movement in a few strokes. Heavy drinking wrecked his health, and he died in 1901 at just thirty six, leaving behind an unforgettable portrait of Paris after dark.