THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 21, Number 30 Thursday, August 4, 2005 Toulouse-Lautrec Amid A Whirlwind Of Activity by Barbara Stodola What a good time the Art Institute of Chicago has arranged for its summer visitors! Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre is the perfect combination for the interactive, interdisciplinary events that audiences have come to love, and the curators/ educators/ pro- moters have outdone themselves in exploring the spin-offs that offer a memorable experience for everyone. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who needs no introduc- tion, epitomizes the naughty-but-nice spirit of Montmartre in the 1890s. Even today the Lautrec mood languishes over the back streets of Paris, sur- viving a century of change in moral climate. The dance-hall hussies he portrayed, displaying their long black stockings and lace bloomers to gentlemen on the prowl, have now become suit- able for family viewing pleasure in Chicago. The life story of Toulouse-Lautrec has been popular- ized by Hollywood, and so he lingers in the public imagina- tion as a tragic fig- ure, crippled, A fashionably attired Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is shown in dwarfish, alcoholic, this 1892 photograph (Musee Toulouse Lautrec.) born into aristocra- The artist suffered from a congenital bone deformity, which resulted in broken legs and stunted growth. cy but preferring He stood 4 feet 11 inches. the company of prostitutes and cir- cus entertainers -- an immensely gift- ed and prolific artist, dead at the Lautrec’s first advertising poster (1891) made him an age of 36. overnight sensation. In this novel approach to poster design, the artist captured the spirit of the riotous Moulin Rouge: La Goulue (tr. The Glutton). Collection Toulouse-Lautrec of The Art Institute of Chicago. Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 August 4, 2005 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $28 6 months $16 3 months $10 1 month $5 Toulouse-Lautrec Continued from Page 1 What the exhibit adds to this image is a sense of the milieu in which Lautrec’s artistic talent flourished -- the cafes and cabarets tucked away in the shadows of Montmartre, and the colorful characters who pop- ulated the seductive nightspots and befriended the vul- nerable artist. “Toulouse-Lautrec did not work alone,” pointed out guest curator Richard Thomson, “he was a great collaborator.” To recreate the rollicking atmosphere, exhibit designer Joseph Cochand inserted a film clip of John Huston’s Moulin Rouge, the 1952 movie starring Jose Ferrer; also archival film footage of dancer Loie Fuller, swirling her diaphanous skirts on a mirrored stage. Can-can music echoes throughout the gal- leries. The spirit of fun is established at the very start, with Lautrec’s hilarious parody of “classical, seri- ous art” and it continues to the very end, where an entire gallery is devoted to circus themes. This wonderful exhibit is just the beginning of the The subject of another poster, May Milton, was a British singer who total-art experience the Art Institute has in store. There performed at the Cafe Ambassadeurs. Lautrec captures her personality will be lectures by visiting scholars, performances, print- with a demure curtsey, in contrast to more flamboyant dancers. Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. ing demonstrations, drawing classes with costumed Ambassadeurs: Aristide Bruant (1892) was a poster commissioned by the performer. Lautrec portrayed the brassy singer/songwriter in his characteristic red scarf, black hat and overcoat, and the image became famous. Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1899, Toulouse- Lautrec did this unfor- gettable image of Jane Avril, a showgirl and close friend of the artist. She was one of the redhaired beauties he depicted many times, her moods rang- ing from exhilaration to despondence. Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. THE August 4, 2005 Page 3 models in the galleries and, in August, “Circus Parade: Family Art Camp,” for ages 6 to 12 with an adult com- Open ‘til 6 p.m. panion. A new cafe has been added to the restaurant Evenings services, and a new menu item is chocolate mousse, which we are told was invented by the artist himself. The popular “Voices” programs will continue on Thursdays, in Fullerton Hall at noon, with professional actors reading from the letters and journals of Toulouse www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the Lautrec and his colleagues. Fashion Conscious Woman [email protected] Women’s Apparel Sidewalk Days! Summer Clearance! 50%-60% Off As a young art student in Paris, Henri painted this spoof of a Puvis de Chavannes “classical” painting being invaded by modern observers, SeaSuns Tropics... with the artist (back to audience) relieving himself. The original Puvis work is also on display in this exhibit. Stretch Twill Jean Part of Lautrec’s fascination stems from how he was Jacket, Flood Pant poised between upper-crust and low-brow, both in his and Shell with flair! art and his lifestyle. Although his fame rests on the Jacket - Regular Price $75 advertising posters he designed for nightclubs, Lautrec On Sale $37.50! also completed more than 700 oil paintings, and this in a career lasting less than 20 years. Many of his best Flood Pant - Regular Price paintings have been brought to Chicago for this $62 exhibit, and others have been in the Art Institute’s col- On Sale $31! lection since the 1920s. In these, he is seen as an impor- tant chronicler of modern life, with an incomparable Shell - Regular Price $36 skill for capturing personalities. On Sale $18! From the very start, Lautrec snubbed his nose at Hurry In! the establishment and official Salon art. He then developed a style of painting suited to catching the fast-paced life of Parisian revelry. Using oil paints, but thinned to a fluid consistency, he was able to preserve New Fall Arriving Daily! on canvas the spontaneity that usually comes across in quick drawings. For subject matter, he showed a FUN FALL FUN FALL preference for moving figures -- dancers and race-hors- DISCOUNTS DISCOUNTS es -- following in the path of Edgar Degas. He also adopt- 30% Off 25% Off ed Degas’ perspective, an angled approach to a scene, One Regular Priced Item One Regular Priced Item Expires August 31st, 2005 Not Valid with any Expires August 31st, 2005 Not Valid with any looking over the corner of a tabletop. Lautrec great- Other Offer. Cannot be combined with any Other Offer. Cannot be combined with any other coupons or sale. other coupons or sale. ly admired the work of the older Impressionist artist, but the favor was not returned. The exhibit has been arranged thematically, with SUPER TENT SALE! one gallery focusing on maisons closes, the licensed $5-$50 Values up to $400! brothels regulated by French authorities. Lautrec’s portrayals are sympathetic, showing women surviv- Meet Us For Lunch And A Style Show ing under difficult circumstances. Most of his broth- el paintings were not shown publicly during the WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10 - HANNAH’S, NEW BUFFALO artist’s lifetime. The Art Institute exhibit includes Elles, 409409 Alexander StreetStreet, LaPorte, IN 326-8602 the 1896 album of color lithographs depicting the On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway daily routines of prostitutes. TurnTurn Rightright on AlexanderAlexander Monday-FridayMonday - Friday10 am 9:30to 6 pmto 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 am to to5 5 pm Toulouse-Lautrec Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 August 4, 2005 Toulouse-Lautrec Continued from Page 3 a 20-year-old Pablo Picasso came to Paris to seek his In the galleries devoted to the Montmartre district, fortune. Lautrec’s work has been set beside other artists’ Although Lautrec’s fortune was already assured, work, and the comparisons are very instructive. he responded readily to the requests for applying Artists came from many countries to record their his talents to advertising art. His first poster, Moulin impressions of Montmartre -- Santiago Russinol and Rouge: La Goulue, was printed in 1891 and, when Ramon Casas (Spain), Henri Eugene Nocq (Belgium), 3,000 copies were pasted up all over Paris, the artist Eero Jarnefelt (Finland.) In 1886, Lautrec became friend- became a celebrity. The next year he was commissioned ly with Vincent Van Gogh, who had arrived from the to do posters advertising Aristide Bruant, a singer and Netherlands to visit his brother Theo, an art dealer. songwriter who performed in various nightclubs. In 1901, as Lautrec’s career was drawing to a close, See Cover & Page 2 for more posters. Jules Cheret, credit- ed as “father of the modern poster,” cap- tured the rowdiness ot Montmartre festiv- ities in this 1889 poster, Bal au Moulin Rouge (tr. Ball at the Red Windmill.) At the time, there were still windmills in what used to be a bucolic farm community. Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen decorated one of the most remarkable night- clubs in Montmartre -- the Chat Noir (tr. Black Cat.) The cabaret was deco- rated in a pseudo- medieval style, with armor and tapes- tries, and drinks were served in pewter mugs. Sacre Coeur, an 1890 painting by the Spanish artist Ramon Casas, shows the hilltop church crowning the hill of Montmartre, with clusters of houses in the work- ing class neighbor- hood that became, after nightfall, the haunt of derelicts and partygoers.