Brief Biography-Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born the son of a nobleman in Albi, Southern France. Between 1882 and 1885, he studied art in Paris under Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat and Fernand Cormon.
His family allowed him the finances to set up a studio in Montmartre in 1885. He became acquainted with impressionist painters such as Van Gogh and later Paul Gauguin. The works of Edgar Degas had a strong influence on him, along with Japanese art prints. His debut in the art profession was with posters and paintings for the entertainment industry in Paris. He frequented the Moulin Rouge, where some of his most famous lithographs originated. The Salon des Indépendants exhibited his work in 1889, which created much interest in his posters. He travelled to several European countries, including England, where he sketched Oscar Wilde on one of his visits.
Lautrec drank heavily throughout his life. In 1899, he experienced a mental collapse and entered an asylum where he slowly recovered; however, he died due to his excessive lifestyle in 1901. His deformed legs may have contributed to his alcoholism; though this is mostly speculation, he also suffered from syphilis. The Musée Lautrec in Albi displays many of his works.