The Art and Life of Toulouse-Lautrec

About the Class

More than any artist of his time, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec captured the rollicking nightlife of Montmartre in the 1890s. This was the era of the Moulin Rouge, the cancan, and seedy all-night cabarets—and Toulouse-Lautrec was right in the middle of it, developing a new visual language to convey the glamor, and sadness, of this dizzying Parisian underworld. This course explores the life and work of this famously mischievous artist, focusing on his paintings of dance hall performers and prostitutes, posters advertising the era’s celebrities, and portraits depicting members of his bohemian circle. Among the themes we will discuss are the rise of celebrity culture in Paris; the massive expansion of print media in the late 19th century; and the social history of prostitution.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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