HENRI de TOULOUSE-LAUTREC
(1864-1901)
A series of entertainers are seen parading through the Moulin Rouge, the entertainment hall that Lautrec frequented. The event is believed to be a gala evening to celebrate the Franco-Russian alliance of July 1893. The foremost figure riding a donkey is ‘La Goulue’ (Louise Weber, 1870-1929), the star dancer of the club. Beside her is thought to be the female clown, Cha-u-Kao (derived from the Chahut-Chaos dance).
Although Lautrec’s politics are believed to have been neutral, he was clearly aware of political events. In a sarcastic letter to his mother on 17 or 24 July 1893, he wrote: ‘Long live Russia!! And curious thing, there’s such a patriotic or international fervour that this 8-day July 14 hasn’t been tiring. Of course, I had to put up with being kept waiting here and there half an hour at a time, but it was a question of the European balance of power and I put a good face on it’ (p.75, Adriani, 1988).
Copyright © Trustees of Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford.
Extract taken from Prints, Cecil Higgins Art Gallery .