Line #30 Creator/HenriDeToulouseLautrec


1	[[quoteright:260:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toulouse_lautrec.jpg]]
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3	Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (born Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa; 24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901) is one of the most famous late 19th century UsefulNotes/{{Fr\|ance}}ench painters and illustrators. His is best known for depicting life in 19th-century Paris, particularly at the famed Moulin Rouge nightclub/brothel, where he was a permanent resident.
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5	Toulouse-Lautrec is one of the most recognizable {{painters}}, due to his short height. Many people assume he suffered from dwarfism, but in reality, he struggled with congenital health conditions, worsened by him breaking both his right thigh bone at age 13 and his left a year later. The bones never healed the way they were supposed to, and even as an adult he was only 4 foot 8/ 1.42 m high. [[RichesToRags Despite being born in an aristocratic family his grotesque appearance made him an outcast and he went on living a bohemian lifestyle in Parisian night clubs, cafés and brothels.]] As a result popular culture often depicts him as some kind of DepravedDwarf, but in reality he was a [[TheWoobie troubled artist]] who only felt accepted in the sleazy, decadent nightlife of the French capital. He [[DrowningHisSorrows drowned his sorrows]] [[note]]and probably self-medicated for chronic pain[[/note]] in alcohol and absinthe, while making some of the most elegant and colorful posters, lithos, and {{paintings}} ever made.
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7	Toulouse-Lautrec was a personal friend of many other artists of the time, including Creator/VincentVanGogh, Édouard Vuillard and Creator/OscarWilde. He is also an example of ShortLivedBigImpact, being only active for about 20 years and dying at age 36 from the effects of alcoholism and syphilis.
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9	!! Toulouse-Lautrec's name provides examples of:
10	* AuthorAppeal: He liked the theatre. His many paintings and drawings of nightclubs are one example, but his early work also depicted the circus.
11	* BottleEpisode: The majority of his art is located in Paris, more specifically around the Montmartre.
12	* ChorusGirls: His paintings feature many women like this.
13	* CrapSaccharineWorld: Toulouse-Lautrec's work has a bittersweet undertone. On one hand it shows the fun of the Parisian nightlife, on the other there is a certain melancholy to it as well.
14	* DancingIsSeriousBusiness: Many of his paintings and posters depict dancing women in the Moulin Rouge, especially ones [[Music/TheCanCanSong dancing the can can]].
15	* GayParee: His work cemented our idea of late 19th century Paris.
16	* GeniusCripple: His limited physical abilities led him to immerse himself in art; ultimately, he became one of the most celebrated painters of the Post-Impressionist era.
17	* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Contrary to Victorian values, Toulouse-Lautrec painted sex workers not as debaucherous loose women, but as sympathethic and intriguing individuals. He was friends with many of them and felt a connection based on their shared status as outcasts.
18	* ImprobablyFemaleCast: Drew a lot of famous Parisian night club stars, like Jane Avril and La Goulue.
19	* KissingCousins: A good part of his physical problems can be traced back to his pedigree, as his parents were first cousins whose family had a history of inbreeding, as was common in aristocratic families.
20	* MirrorSelf: A famous photo from 1891 shows Toulouse-Lautrec painting himself as if he were twins. The effect was created by photographic trickery.
21	* NeverAcceptedInHisHomeTown: He wasn't accepted by high society, despite actually being from an aristocratic family, so he spent most of his time in the sleazier parts of town, which was also reflected in the subjects of his work.
22	** It should be noted, however that his parents subverted this trope; they accepted him for who he was, and he died on the family estate.
23	* TheOldestProfession: He painted and drew a lot of prostitutes.
24	* PopCulturalOsmosis: The general public knows he made pictures of dancing women and prostitutes in the Moulin Rouge, but he is far better known for being a small man. Most references in popular culture uses his small height as a joke.
25	* SelfDeprecation: Toulouse-Lautrec endured a lot of mockery because of his stature, but he poked fun at himself once in a while too: one of his caricatures depicts him in the nude with stubby fat legs. [[http://collectie.boijmans.nl/en/collection/mb-1951-t-3-%28pk%29]]
26	* ThisBedOfRoses: Toulouse-Lautrec practically lived in the Moulin Rouge, the only place where he felt accepted. This also explains the homely look he gave this location in his work.
27	* UnproblematicProstitution: He showed prostitutes as they are, without condemning their lifestyle.
28	* WriteWhoYouKnow: His work shows the night club life in Paris, which he witnessed first hand. A lot of his sketches and paintings both portray the singers and dancers during their shows, but also backstage moments where people dress up, drink alcohol, sleep in bed with their clients or the doctor paying his weekly visit.
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30	!!Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in popular culture:
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32	[[AC:Advertising]]
33	* His image has been used in 2014 advertisements for Mazda.
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35	[[AC:Comics]]
36	* Ronald Searle made a drawing depicting Toulouse-Lautrec's version of "The Raft Of The Meduse". It features him as a comical dwarf between grotesque prostitutes who tower above him.
37	* ''ComicBook/DeKiekeboes'': In ''Hotel O.'' all the hotel chambers are named after famous painters. As a matter of a joke a very tiny man rents the "Toulouse-Lautrec" room. Later in the story the chamber maids perform Music/TheCanCanSong for him.
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39	[[AC:Film]]
40	* The 1952 movie ''Film/{{Moulin Rouge\|1952}}'' stars José Ferrer as the painter.
41	* ''Film/WhatsNewPussycat'': Creator/VincentVanGogh and Creator/HenriDeToulouseLautrec are shown at a sidewalk café.
42	** In a later Creator/WoodyAllen vehicle, ''Film/MidnightInParis'' Adriana and the protagonist go to 1890s Paris in the Moulin Rouge, where they witness Toulouse-Lautrec.
43	* The 1998 movie ''Lautrec'' by Roger Planchon is a {{Biopic}} about his life.
44	* In Creator/BazLuhrmann's ''Film/MoulinRouge'' Toulouse-Lautrec is played by Creator/JohnLeguizamo. Inexplicably, he's a stage director instead of a painter here.
45	** ''Film/ItsAVeryMerryMuppetChristmasMovie'' is a parody of "Moulin Rouge" and features Gonzo as the famous painter.
46	* ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPicasso'' features many historical domain characters in surreal situations, one of them Toulouse-Lautrec.
47	* ''WesternAnimation/GayPurree'': This Creator/ChuckJones vehicle provides shout-outs to many painters' works, including Toulouse-Lautrec. A feline version of him is seen sitting and sketching at the Meowlin Rouge.
48	* ''Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays2004'' has Toulouse-Lautrec appear in a cameo.
49	* ''Film/BlazingSaddles:'' In a scene sometimes included in TV airings of the film, Governor Le Petomane is asked for "his impressions" and proceeds to do one of Toulouse-Lautrec .
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51	[[AC:Literature]]
52	* ''Moulin Rouge (1950)'', a biographical novel by Pierre La Mure, follows Lautrec through his whole life and contains vivid impressions of his family, his circumstances, and the milieu in which he lived and worked.
53	* ''Literature/SacreBleu'', a 2012 by Christopher Moore has Lucien Lessard work together with Toulouse-Lautrec to solve the mystery of Creator/VincentVanGogh's death. Toulouse-Lautrec is portrayed as a LovableSexManiac who spends much of his time in a brothel. But he's seen to be an extremely loyal friend and one of the more pleasant people in the novel.
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55	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
56	* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'': In a sketch from the first season a cycling tour is organized where various painters are the contestants. As a small visual joke Toulouse-Lautrec is seen passing by on a tricycle.
57	* Toulouse Lautrec's portrait of cabaret artist Aristide Bruant is often cited as an influence on the costuming of the Fourth Doctor - the one played by Creator/TomBaker - on ''Series/DoctorWho''.
58	* ''Series/AlloAllo'': In one episode René disguises himself as Toulouse-Lautrec to escape arrest by the Germans. It doesn't work; on seeing him, General von Klinkerhoffen merely remarks "Tell the café-owner to get up off his knees, he's under arrest."
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60	[[AC:Music]]
61	* Many CD's with music from French 19th century composers, like Music/ErikSatie, for instance use works by Toulouse-Lautrec on the covers.
62	* Music/{{Ash}} has a song entitled "Astral Conversations with Toulouse-Lautrec."
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64	[[AC:Radio]]
65	* ''Radio/TheGoonShow'': The "Tales of Montmartre" sketch is a humorous dialogue between Paul Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec.
66	--> '''Gauguin:''' You can keep my paintings.
67	--> '''Toulouse-Lautrec:''' What good are they?
68	--> '''Gauguin:''' Nothing now, they'll be worth a fortune after I'm dead.
69	--> '''Toulouse-Lautrec:''' After you're dead... ''[GUNSHOT]'' I'm rich!
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71	[[AC:Video Games]]
72	* ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfBayouBilly'': The character Toulouse L'Attack is named after him.
73	* ''Asterix And Obelix XXL2'' The character of [[http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/7470/larry2b.jpg Larry]] [[http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7537/larry1l.jpg Craft]] gets a cameo before being actually introduced, as a parody of a poster by Toulouse-Lautrec.
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75	[[AC:Western Animation]]
76	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Lautrec}}'' is an animated short from 1975, that is basically Toulouse-Lautrec's art given animation, interspersed with photos of the man and his life.
77	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarepants'': In "Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost", when Squidward is deciding where he wants his "throne" to be laid down, he complains that some spots are "too hot", "too wet", and [[GeniusBonus "Toulouse-Lautrec"]], and then [[VisualPun cuts to a painting of his re-done with fish.]]

Context Creator / HenriDeToulouseLautrec