Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec pursued painting as a youth and went on to create innovations in lithograph drawing. He became highly famed for his posters, influenced by Japanese styles and Impressionist Edgar Degas , and for imbuing marginalized populations with humanity in his art, including sex workers, as seen in his print series Elles. Consumed by heavy drinking and suffering from various illnesses, he died on September 9, , at the age of It has been hypothesized he suffered from pycnodysostosis β also known as Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome β though others have questioned this.
He would also endure painful toothaches and facial deformities during his life as well. Yet Toulouse-Lautrec, like other members of his family, would find solace in the world of art, taking up sketching before reaching his adolescence and honing his craft during his long periods of recuperation from health issues.
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As opposed to many of his contemporaries, art critics have pointed out that Toulouse-Lautrec was also known for his humanistic, realistic depictions of women, eschewing fantasy to accurately reflect the circumstances of many of the people he came to know. Many of his pieces also captured sex workers in moments beyond erotic objectification.
In , Toulouse-Lautrec moved to the Montmartre section of Paris, an area known for its bohemian life, which included live musical performances, bars and brothels. Over time, Toulouse-Lautrec built a stellar reputation with his depictions of regular Montmartre denizens and celebrities. Toulouse-Lautrec created works on canvas yet also chose to display his work in the more popular medium of posters, thus becoming a highly sought after creative force known for his unique style.
He was greatly influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking as well as by fellow artist and Impressionist Edgar Degas, who lived nearby at one point. He had also contracted syphilis, which further impacted his health. As he had for much of his adult life, Toulouse-Lautrec turned to alcohol to deal with his pain and would ultimately drink himself into oblivion. He had a nervous breakdown in after his mother, whom he was close to, decided to leave Paris, and the artist was committed to a sanitarium for several months.
