Henri Toulouse-Lautrec

A Country Outing, 1882. Oil on canvas, 18 1/8 x 15 in. Phillip and Janice Levin Collection.

Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901). French artist, associated with the Impressionists. His later work was to prove vital to the development of poster art. Toulouse-Lautrec was born at Albi (where there is now a museum of his work) in the South of France. He showed an early gift for drawing, to which he turned increasingly after a riding accident at the age of 15 left him with crippled and stunted legs. In 1882 he began to study art in Paris. He admired Goya's etchings and Degas' work, and in the 1880's he met Gauguin and was inspired by Japanese prints. Lautrec became a familiar figure drawing and paintings in the dance halls, theatres, cafes, circuses, and brothels. He often painted with thinned-out oils on cardboard. (Brockhampton)

This particular painting is unusual for Lautrec - he is well known for his works featuring Parisian nightlife. This painting was in his early period and reflected scenes of country life among the wealthy as he was from a privileged background.

Goya Prints

The dream of reason produces monsters (Caprichos, pl. 43) Etching and aquatint.

Feminine folly (Disparates, pl. 1). Etching, aquatint and ?drypoint

Gone for good (Caprichos, pl. 61). Etching, aquatint and drypoint.

Here is just a tiny smattering of Goya on a Thursday afternoon. He did so many incredible paintings and prints. He did several series of prints... was quite political, serious and very humorous, especially for his 'day.'

"Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes 1746-1828. Spanish painter and engraver. He painted portraits of 4 successive kings of Spain; his series of etchings include the famous Los Caprichos 1797-98 and The Disasters of War 1810-1814, both depicting the horrors of the French invasion of Spain. Among his later works are the 'Black Paintings'.

Goya was born in Aragon and was for a time a bullfighter, the subject of some of his etchings. After studying in Italy, he returned to Spain and was employed on a number of paintings for the royal tapestry factory as well as numerous portraits. In 1789 he was appointed court painter to Charles IV. The eroticism of his Nude Maja and Clothed Maja about 1800-1805 (Prado, Madrid) caused such outrage that he was questioned by the Inquisition. The Shootings of May 3rd 1808-1814, painted for Ferdinand VII, is passionate in its condemnation of the inhumanity of war." (Brockhampton)