Toulouse Lautrec in Pisa Palazzo Blu in Pisa from October 16th, 2015 to February 14th, 2016
“In his works you can find not only the human face of which he didn’t deliberately emphasize the unfortunate side (...) he was a restless observer but his brush didn’t lie”, this is how well-known journalist Arthur Huc describes the art of Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, protagonist of the large exhibit “Toulouse Lautrec. Shadows and lights of Montmartre”, hosted by Palazzo Blu in Pisa from October 16th, 2015 to February 14th, 2016. There are more than 180 works of art to describe the artist of Albi: the entire collection of his most famous manifest, numerous drawings, a carefully selected variety of paintings, and for the first time in Italy, one of the most complete collections of his graphic works, of first editions and numerous lithographs with original dedications from the artist.
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There are more than 180 works of art to describe the artist of Albi: the entire collection of his most famous manifest, numerous drawings, a carefully selected variety of paintings, and for the first time in Italy, one of the most complete collections of his graphic works, of first editions and numerous lithographs with original dedications from the artist. Through its production Lautrec was able, more than anyone else, to describe and characterize a city, the colors of a generation and, more generally, the real lifestyle of the late nineteenth century in Paris, the Paris of the Moulin Rouge, Montmartre and maison closes when, at the turn of two centuries, the Ville lumière was the undisputed capital of art of the world. Henri-Marie-Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec (Albi 1864) belongs to an old aristocratic family in southern France, one of the Counts of Toulouse. He shows through the physical the consequences of the frequent intermarriage and was born with a compromised body. To worsen his already poor health, the two crashes he had in less than two years also contribute and cause the young man’s breaking of both legs. His physical condition prevented him from carrying out different activities, prompting him to seek refuge in his art. His celebrity is growing fast and the most important magazines commission him for illustrations, of all the Figaro Illustré, the Courrier Francais or the Revue Blanche. In a few time Toulouse-Lautrec is referred to as the soul of Montmartre. 
Oltre 180 opere in mostra per raccontare l’artista di Albi: l’intera raccolta dei suoi più celebri manifesti, numerosi disegni, un’attenta selezione di dipinti e, per la prima volta in Italia, una delle più complete collezioni della sua opera grafica, composta da prime edizioni e numerose litografie con dediche originali dell’artista. Attraverso la sua produzione Lautrec è riuscito, più di chiunque altro, a descrivere e caratterizzare una città, i colori di una generazione e, più in generale, il vero stile di vita della Parigi di fine Ottocento, la Parigi del Moulin Rouge, di Montmartre e delle maison closes quando, a cavallo tra due secoli, la Ville lumiére era l’indiscussa capitale mondiale dell’arte. Henri‐Marie‐Raymond de Toulouse‐Lautrec (Albi 1864) appartiene ad un’antica famiglia aristocratica del sud della Francia, quella dei Conti di Toulouse. Riporta nel fisico le conseguenze dei frequenti matrimoni tra consanguinei e nasce con un fisico compromesso. A peggiorare le sue già precarie condizioni di salute, contribuiscono due cadute che in meno di due anni provocano al giovane la rottura di entrambe le gambe. Le sue condizioni fisiche gli impediscono di svolgere le più diverse attività, spingendolo a rifugiarsi nella sua arte. La sua celebrità cresce velocemente e le più importanti riviste gli commissionano illustrazioni, su tutte il Figaro Illustré, il Courrier Francais o la Revue blanche. In poco tempo Toulouse‐Lautrec viene definito l’anima di Montmartre.
