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Toulouse-Lautrec: THIS is Lautrec's first poster, Moulin Rouge - La Goulue, which introduced into poster design a bold simplification of form, space, and composition learned from Japanese woodblock prints (see Japonisme). |
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| A combined cabaret and dance hall, the Moulin Rouge opened in 1889 and soon became the center of night life in Montmartre. Lautrec shows one of the star turns of the place as the dancer La Goulue performs the scandalous chahut (can can) with her loose-limbed partner Valentin Le Désossé (the boneless). In this debut poster, Lautrec had not only his first involvement with color lithography, but also departed radically from previous poster art. The work virtually established his career, and his name became immediately known throughout Paris. In terms of sheer scale the poster is commanding, and its composition is startling and memorable. The choice of subject is revolutionary, marking the first time that specific "stars" had been used to advertise a place of entertainment. Lautrec portrays the famous pair performing in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by a circle of spectators that embraces the viewer. Moulin Rouge - La Goulue1891; Desloge 80; W P1b; D 339 Lithograph in four colors. 75 x 46 inches. Printed across three sheets of paper. Artist's signature and text in upper part designed by the artist. Lower text by another hand. Gift of the Baldwin M. Baldwin Foundation, 1987:19 |
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