Exhibitions - Previous Exhibitions - Toulouse Lautrec [1864-1901]

The Gascoigne gallery is proud to present another first for Harrogate and Yorkshire. This exhibition by one of France's most famous son's, showcases the vibrant and unusual talent of Toulouse Lautrec.

Born an aristocrat in the southern French town of Albi, Lautrec suffered from numerous health conditions, he had abnormally weak bones that led to multiple leg fractures, resulting in stunted growth. At 4 foot 11 inches, Lautrec was medically however, not legally a dwarf.

His obsession with life that lived outside of the expected norm, drew him to the sordid dance halls, caberets, brothels and circuses that populated the Montmartre district of Paris. He immersed himself in this decadent culture, painting by day and soaking in the Bohemian atmosphere at night.

However it was the circus that saved him from lifelong institutionalisation in 1899, Lautrec managed to gain his release through a series of crayon circus drawings etched from memory to prove his soundness of mind. Based on his earlier work which was admired for its youthfulness and sexual overtones, the circus was the ideal metaphor for a man who was trying to release his inner demons and traumas about a childhood and indeed a life that had been denied him. At 36, Lautrec died, leaving behind a superlative visual memory of the spirit and decadence that was the Montmartre.

The Directors request the pleasure of your company (with friends) for a truly Parisian opening of this exhibition, with entertainment food and wine.

Oooooh la la!