The influences caused by art.

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One of the remarkable aspects of art is that it has influences on many things. It is often influenced by earlier elements and creates legacies that influence future artistic expression. Toulouse-Lautrec is an example of a remarkable artist with noted links to his artistic past as well as later artistic works. As a significant artist of his time, famous for his tremendous contribution to the art world, Lautrec successes can be linked to earlier works. As well, and despite some differences from other noted artists of his time, Lautrec's artistic spirit lives on, to some extent, in the work of later artists.    

Despite his physical disability as well as fragile health, Toulouse-Lautrec produced numerous amazing works of art. He managed to create his own recognizable style, showed an impressive sense of humour in his works and used technology to reach a larger public.

During his brief life, Toulouse-Lautrec often enjoyed making quick sketches of people, while talking and drinking in nightclubs. As seen in “At the Moulin Rouge”, this painting clearly exhibits his interest in Parisian nightlife of the 19th century. Here, he illustrated people in a humourous way. In addition to his interest in Parisian nightlife, he was also the first artist to produce posters for commercial purposes. One of his posters, “Moulin Rouge (poster),” was an advertisement inviting the public to a show. Showing his humourous illustrations and interesting slogans, such as “a very Parisian show which husbands can attend with their wives,” Lautrec built up his reputation and became well known in Paris. In fact, he created copies of his posters using a technique, called lithography. It involves drawing or painting onto a stone with special inks, then pressing. Since a lithograph costs much less than an original painting, this method certainly allowed people to buy more of his lithographs.

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Having reviewed the elements of Lautrec's work, it would be worthwhile to understand what influenced his style. Perhaps the most essential influence on Lautrec's style was the work of Edgar Degas. Degas was an impressionist artist, living between 1834 and 1917. The most notable influence on Lautrec from Dagas relates to subject matter. Both Degas's and Lautrec's works show a fascination with people on stage. Evidently, “The Stars of the Quadrille” by Lautrec reminds one of “The Rehearsal on the Stage” by Degas. Both paintings contain similar subject matter, the dancers. Degas was interested in depicting a daily routine ...

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