Toulouse‑Lautrec is the National Gallery of Australia’s summer exhibition. The Australian public has never before had the opportunity to see a major retrospective exhibition devoted to the art of French 19th century artist Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec in painting, drawing, posters and prints.

The exhibition sheds new light on the artist through an examination of his involvement in Parisian culture—the high life and the low life. Toulouse‑Lautrec will examine the artist’s abilities as an acute observer of Parisian life, his skill as a draughtsman, his experimentation in composition and the brilliance of his technical execution in all media.

The exhibition will trace Toulouse‑Lautrec’s career from his earliest works to his extraordinary, insightful depictions of the Paris social scene, the dance halls, the café‑concerts, the brothels and theatre, all of which capture the essence of his Parisian characters and haunts. Through his work, Toulouse‑Lautrec became an influential figure in the evolution of 20th century art.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec died in September 1901, painting until very shortly before his death. A new capital for a new nation was in its first stages of conception while this painter was alive and creating the works we will see in this exhibition at the start of the centenary year.

This is an opportunity for audiences to see an extensive and thorough examination of Toulouse‑Lautrec’s art drawn from many collections, both public and private. The exhibition will include important loans from major international institutions such as the Musée de Toulouse‑Lautrec, Albi; the Musée d’Orsay, Paris; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; El Museo de arte Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid; the Courtauld Institute of Art, London; The Tate Modern, London; and many others. 

Presenting Partners -  the ACT Government through ACT Tourism, the Australian Government through the International Exhibitions Insurance Program, and ACTEWAGL.

Key personnel 
Director of the National Gallery foAustralia– Ron Radford AM  
Exhibition Curator –Jane Kinsman  

For more information visit www.nga.gov.au