In our fantasies of Paris, the painter and graphic artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901) plays a significant role. In his prints, posters, paintings, and sketches, the artist immortalizes the nightlife of the Belle Époque and puts the northern neighborhood of Montmartre on the global map of creative-hedonistic hot spots. A son of the old French aristocracy, Toulouse-Lautrec seems to have been enchanted from an early age by visions of a demi-monde, focusing on the dance halls, cabarets, and brothels of Montmartre and adopting famous dancers and singers as his subjects, most notably Jane Avril. His works include both vibrant performance scenes and quiet, tender portraits "after hours," such as The Sofa and In Bed. Stylistically, he masters bold graphic arts, as seen in the striking posters of Jane Avril, as well as relaxed yet expressive sketches. Despite the fact that he died at the age of just 36, due to complications from alcoholism and syphilis, Toulouse-Lautrec's cultural influence was immense. This introductory book describes his world filled with singers, dancers, musicians, and prostitutes, revealing an artist of great humanity, a striking figure, and a keen sense of the energy and stories of a city.
