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September 9, 2017

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, “Jane Avril

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901),

Jane Avril, 1954, reproductive print, 15 x 12 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art.

French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec died on September 9, 1901 at the young age of 36. He painted during the time of Post-Impressionism and was also an illustrator in the Art Nouveau style. He lived a bohemian lifestyle in Paris, which had a heavy influence in the subject matter of his work. In the 1880s and 1890s, Toulouse-Lautrec exhibited in many salons and exhibitions. He was also famous for the posters he created for the Moulin Rouge and other nightclubs in Paris. These illustrations and the works about the Parisian nightlife became explorations of this bohemian lifestyle to which he belonged. Over the course of his short career, he created over 5,000 pieces, including paintings, watercolors, poster, and other works. This piece,

Jane Avril, is of the Parisian dancer Jane Avril, who Toulouse-Lautrec painted many times, though he usually painted her performing rather than as a spectator. Avril was a can-can dancer made famous through Toulouse-Lautrec's paintings.