At the Moulin Rouge
An 1892–1895 painting by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec portraying patrons and performers inside the Moulin Rouge, a Paris nightclub.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: A French painter and printmaker known for images of Parisian nightlife and performers. He made the painting from close observation of Montmartre nightlife.
Montmartre: A hill and historic district in northern Paris, associated with artists, cabarets, and nightlife. The neighborhood was the setting for the social scene Toulouse-Lautrec depicted.
Moulin Rouge dancers: Performers who danced at the Moulin Rouge, including can-can stars such as Jane Avril and La Goulue. Their movement supplies the spectacle visible behind the seated patrons.
Toulouse-Lautrec posters: Lithographic advertisements by Toulouse-Lautrec, celebrated for bold color, simplified shapes, and urban subjects. The painting’s graphic composition connects with the visual language of his posters.
Moulin Rouge: A Paris cabaret founded in 1889, known for dance performances and its red windmill. The nightclub supplies the painting’s setting and social world.
Paris nightlife: The entertainment culture of cafés, cabarets, dance halls, and theaters in Paris. Its venues and performers provided the painting’s subject matter.
William Tom Warrener: An English artist and regular Moulin Rouge patron who appeared in Toulouse-Lautrec’s paintings. His recognizable face appears among the figures gathered around the table.
Lithography: A planographic printing process that transfers ink from a prepared surface to paper. Toulouse-Lautrec used lithography to circulate images of performers beyond the nightclub.
Jane Avril: A French can-can dancer who became one of Toulouse-Lautrec’s recurring subjects. She is depicted dancing in the painting’s background.
Toulouse-Lautrec at the Moulin Rouge: A 1892 painting by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec showing himself and a cousin among Moulin Rouge patrons. This earlier work offers a related view of the same nightclub and its patrons.