Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jane Avril (Before Letters). 1893
Color Lithography, 124×91,5 cm © Herakleidon Museum, Athens Greece
THE PARISIAN NIGHTS OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC
Paris in the late 19th century; bohemian life, artists of Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge, theatres, prostitutes.
This is the environment in which Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) lived and which he decided to portray, becoming, this way, the most famous exponent of that period.
From April 1st 2017 a great exhibition in Verona celebrates the artistic journey of Toulouse-Lautrec, displaying 170 works coming from the Herakleidon Museum in Athens.
READ ALSO: Visit Verona: an itinerary for those who will stay only 24 hours!
Why should you go to Verona to visit this exhibition?
It’s easy, to discover the Parisian nights of an artist who lived hard.
5 feet tall, died a few weeks shy of his 37th birthday of syphilis and alcoholism, Toulouse-Lautrec became famous thanks to his advertising posters and portraits of famous people of that time.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Babylone d’Allemagne – 1884
Color Lithography, 120×84,5 cm © Herakleidon Museum, Athens Greece
Toulouse-Lautrec depicted the images of the Moulin Rouge and of Aristide Bruant and prostitutes in the maisons closes (brothels) where he had his studio.
Toulouse-Lautrec’s friends
The first four sections of the exhibition are dedicated to the Parisian nights.
One of the most well-known aspects of Toulouse-Lautrec’s artistic production is advertisement for nightclubs where Henri decided to highlight the names of the artists who performed on stage, with an innovative promotional intuition.
Toulouse-Lautrec is the real inventor of the star system in the modern meaning.
He made friends with Aristide Bruant (1851-1925), French cabaret-singer and comedian, and defined the figure of the singer through a series of prints and lithographs, by portraying him wearing a voluminous cape, a slouch hat and a red scarf around his neck. This image brought Aristide and Toulouse-Lautrec instant and unexpected fame.
The image of Yvette Guilbert (1868-1944), known as la Diseuse (the Teller), who went on stage with black gloves she wore up to her elbows is unforgettable.
Toulouse-Lautrec dedicated an album of lithographs and several drawings and engravings, to her.
Toulouse-Lautrec established a friendly relationship with Jane Avril (1868-1943), star of the Parisian cabaret, portraying her as a cultured and sophisticated woman while frequenting a café-concert on the poster Divan Japonais (Japanese Sofa) (1893), but also transported by the passion of her performance while dancing can can, together with other dancers in Troupe de Mlle Eglantine (Miss Eglantine’s Troop) (1896).
Toulouse-Lautrec said:
“No matter what the show is. I always feel fine at theatre”.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Eldorado, A. Bruant dans son Cabaret. 1892
Color Lithography, 138×96 cm © Herakleidon Museum, Athens Greece
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Divan Japonais. 1893
Color Lithography, 80,8×60,8 cm © Herakleidon Museum, Athens Greece
INFO
Toulouse-Lautrec. La Belle Époque
dal 1 aprile al 3 settembre 2017
AMO Arena Museo Opera – Palazzo Forti, Verona
#ToulouseVerona
Biglietti
Intero € 14,00 – Ridotto € 12,00
(Audioguida inclusa)
Le Chat
Viens, mon beau chat, sur mon coeur amoureux;
Retiens les griffes de ta patte,
Et laisse-moi plonger dans tes beaux yeux,
Mêlés de métal et d’agate.
Lorsque mes doigts caressent à loisir
Ta tête et ton dos élastique,
Et que ma main s’enivre du plaisir
De palper ton corps électrique,
Je vois ma femme en esprit. Son regard,
Comme le tien, aimable bête
Profond et froid, coupe et fend comme un dard,
Et, des pieds jusques à la tête,
Un air subtil, un dangereux parfum
Nagent autour de son corps brun.
Charles Baudelaire 😀