The Seated Clowness - Mademoiselle Cha-u-ka-o

Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa was a French painter, printmaker, draftsman, caricaturist, and illustrator whose immersion in the colorful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 19th century allowed him to produce a collection of enticing, elegant, and provocative images of the modern and sometimes decadent affairs of those times. Toulouse-Lautrec is among the best-known painters of the Post-Impressionist period. He was born on this day in 1864!

The success of Toulouse-Lautrec's posters advertising Parisian cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge led him to produce deluxe editions of prints of Montmartre's performers, such as this one of the clown and dancer Cha-u-Kao. These lithographs were intended to appeal to fans and print collectors alike. Unlike Lautrec's other images that feature Cha-u-Kao performing, this one captures her off stage in a moment of quiet repose. Her frank pose and almost weary expression suggest we are glimpsing the person behind the persona.

Have a glimpse at the article "Meet Jane Avril, The Great Muse Of Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec".

See you tomorrow!