High Kicks and Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec Prints
A selection from the British Museum’s fine holdings of Toulouse-Lautrec’s graphic work
A British Museum Tour
Supported by through the generosity of the Dorset Foundation
21 April – 26 June 2011
and
Silverstruck
An exhibition celebrating the current strength of contemporary silversmithing in the UK, curated by Dr Elizabeth Goring
A Ruthin Craft Centre/Amgueddfa Cymru exhibition, organised as part of Celf Cymru Gyfan – ArtShare Wales, generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
12 April – 24 July 2011
Described by a contemporary critic as ‘the quintessential chronicler of Paris’, the work of the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) will go on display at National Museum Cardiff from 21 April – 26 June 2011.
Toulouse-Lautrec’s work immediately evokes the decadent atmosphere of fin-de siècle Paris. Through his prolific graphic output of posters, theatre programmes, song-sheets, illustrated periodicals and special edition prints for the growing market of collectors, Lautrec effortlessly managed to combine the excitement of the cabaret and the unforgettable characters of the café-concert with the poignant, shadowy private lives of prostitutes and their clients.
Born in the south of France to an eccentric aristocratic family, Lautrec moved to Paris in 1882 to study art. One of his fellow pupils was Vincent van Gogh who greatly admired his work. Soon Lautrec established a studio in the notorious district of Montmartre, famed for its brothels, nightclubs and dancehalls and it was here that the artist would remain for the rest of his life. Lautrec eagerly embraced the lifestyle of a young bohemian artist of the Belle Epoque. By day he would haunt the galleries and museums and by night he frequented the dancehalls, the Moulin Rouge being his favourite and which he immortalized countless times in his work.
This exhibition, supported through the generosity of the Dorset Foundation, presents a selection from the British Museum’s fine holdings of Toulouse-Lautrec’s graphic work. Divided into two sections, ‘Scenes from Theatrical Life’ and ‘Scenes from Daily Life’, the former presents striking images of the can-can dancer Louise Weber, known as ‘La Goulue’ (‘The Glutton’) and Jane Avril, one of Lautrec’s favourite subjects. In contrast to the lively exuberant scenes of the cafés and bars of Montmartre, Lautrec portrays with great sensitivity the extremely private and intimate life of the prostitute in the second section of the exhibition. The artist lived briefly in several brothels and captured at first hand the daily rituals of feminine life, beautifully executed in the ‘Elles’ portfolio of 1896.
Though Lautrec’s last years were plagued by alcoholic excess, this remarkable artist has left behind a body of work full of insight, wit and above all astonishing technical and artistic virtuosity.
Also on display at National Museum Cardiff from April 2011 is Silverstruck – an exhibition which celebrates the current strength of contemporary silversmithing in the UK, reflecting new directions realised by traditional and cutting-edge techniques. It features an exciting selection of new work by established and emerging makers.
The title of the exhibition, Silverstruck, is a word from curator Dr Elizabeth Goring’s imagination:
“It felt like a perfect description of the condition in which I found myself, awed by the skill and creativity and dedication of contemporary silversmithing.” She hopes that “the work in this exhibition brings you as much pleasure as I have had in selecting it, and that you find yourself similarly Silverstruck.”
Silverstruck is a partnership between Ruthin Craft Centre – The Centre for the Applied Arts, and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. It has been organised as part of ArtShare Wales http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/partnerships/artshare/, Amgueddfa Cymru’s visual arts partnership scheme. Generously funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, the scheme aims to increase access to the national collections through innovative collaborations with venues across Wales.
Entry to these exhibitions and each Museum is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.
