Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, a post-impresstionist, was born into an aristocratic French family in 1864. cast out early in life because of a birth defect (likely the result of inbreeding), he found a home amongst the bohemian artists and performers in Montmartre. he made a living creating posters such as this one, which advertises a cabaret performance. all of western Europe was, at this point, enamored of Japanese culture, a result of the recent opening of Japan and an outpouring of Japanese goods.
Divan Japonais was painted in 1893 and is housed at the MFA Boston.
