Visiting Montmartre with Toulouse-Lautrec as guide
The current exhibition at the National Gallery in Washington, Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre, is a wonderful introduction to this unique section of Paris. In the late nineteenth century, Montmartre became the heart of a daring, often racy, entertainment industry that lured thrill-seeking Parisians to its dance halls and cabarets, circuses and brothels. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, though born into an aristocratic family. lived in this working-class district for most of his career, and his art is closely linked to its raucous spirit. Although many other artists, such as Degas and Van Gogh, also lived in Montmartre, Toulouse-Lautrec is most well known for his portraits of its people and atmosphere. Walking through this exhibition is like entering his world, looking over his shoulder as he creates his posters and paintings.
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