At the Moulin Rouge
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1892–1895
Oil on canvas
Quick answer
At the Moulin Rouge (1892–1895) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is in Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. At the Moulin Rouge is an oil painting by French Post-Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created between 1892 and 1895. It depicts the interior of the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret in Montmartre, Paris, with identifiable patrons and performers visible in the scene. Toulouse-Lautrec himself appears in the background in the right centre of the composition. The painting is at the Art Institute of Chicago. World Museum Guide explains what you're looking at and how to see it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is At the Moulin Rouge?
At the Moulin Rouge is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, in Gallery 241 alongside major Post-Impressionist works. It arrived at the Art Institute through the bequest of Helen Birch Bartlett in 1928.
Is Toulouse-Lautrec in At the Moulin Rouge?
Yes — Toulouse-Lautrec appears in the background, in the right centre of the composition. He is the short figure (he was only 152 cm, or 5 feet, tall due to a bone disease that stunted his growth after childhood falls). He appears next to his tall cousin Gabriel Tapié de Celeyran. Lautrec regularly included himself in his depictions of Moulin Rouge life.
Who is the woman with the green face in At the Moulin Rouge?
The woman with the dramatically lit, greenish face at the right foreground is May Milton, a British-born actress and dance performer who appeared at the Moulin Rouge and other Paris venues in the 1890s. Toulouse-Lautrec also created a famous poster of her. The green skin tone is an effect of the artificial gas lighting at the Moulin Rouge — Lautrec was interested in how artificial light distorted natural colour.
Does the Moulin Rouge still exist?
Yes — the Moulin Rouge is still operating in Montmartre, Paris, at 82 Boulevard de Clichy. It continues to stage elaborate cabaret shows (most famously featuring the cancan) for audiences of tourists. The original 1889 building was destroyed by fire; the current structure dates from 1921. The iconic red windmill on the roof has been a Montmartre landmark for over a century.
What style is Toulouse-Lautrec's work?
Toulouse-Lautrec is generally classified as Post-Impressionist, though his work is highly individual. He was deeply influenced by Japanese woodblock prints (their flat colour, strong outlines, and asymmetric compositions) and by Degas's compositions and interest in human movement. His distinctive contribution was developing a graphic style — most evident in his lithographic posters — that directly influenced Art Nouveau and the entire history of modern graphic design.