Monday, 18 November 2013

Post-Impressionism: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

From 1880's onwards the impressionists disbanded and went off to do their own thing. The movement halted and made way for what now is called, dubiously, 'post-impressionism'. The term was coined a posteriori to the phenomenon in 1910 by Roger Fry. It covers the period of approx 1880-1904. It is not a defining term but just used for chronology of art history. All post-impressionists painted differently after the impressionists, although a recurring theme was the trend towards abstraction.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
Henri was a dwarf and portrayed Bohemian figures in the late 19th century. Died at the age of 37 due to his alcoholism.

Ball at the Moulin de la Galette, 1889.
This scene was also painted by Renoir. Henri's version however is darker, more sinister and more hallucinogenic, perhaps the effect that the absinthe had on him made him to see things in a darker way. He used a lot of visible lines in his work because he was a graphic designer and engraver and was transferring his skills to painting.

La Goulue arriving at the Moulin Rouge, 1892.
the massive areas of block colour visible is an indication of the 20th century and moving on from impressionism. La Goulue was the most famous dancer of the can-can

Moulin Rouge, 1891.
His use of block colours more visible here. Also the artist merging with graphic design is looking forward to artists in the 20th and even 21st century.

Ambassadeurs, 1892.
And another. Comics began a little later in 1905 and drew much of their influence from images such as these.

Au Salon de la Rue des Moulins, 1894.

La Toilette, 1889.

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