Local leaders welcome Lautrec exhibition to San Diego Museum of Art

Kay Liscomb, Development Director at the San Diego Museum of Art greets Assemblywoman Lori Saldana. Photo by Max Donner.

The long awaited exhibition of theSan Diego Museum of Art’s own collection of works by Toulouse-Lautrec is now opening. The gala celebration Friday evening brought together local leaders, arts patrons, and live can-can dancers who paid tribute to Lautrec’s legendary illustrations of the lively cabaret scene in the Montmartre district of Paris.

When you see the exhibition yourself, you will literally see Lautrec’s Paris from many different perspectives. That is because most of the works featured were commissioned as commercial illustrations. This production made use of multiple drafts, printers proofs and reproduction in different size formats and magazine illustrations. There is additional visual variety with a range of typeface overlays to the illustrations by Lautrec.

The special exhibition highlights Lautrec’s versatility by presenting his most popular themes together in special salons. Parisian high society, Cabaret society, “Red Light District” society, artists’ circles and the world of literary magazines and serialized novels show you Lautrec’s perspectives on late nineteenth Century Paris.

Gala opening visitor Katrien Hogan was inspired by the presentation. She was impressed by “the impact of color, the vibrant images, the sensual life and the expressions of his subjects.” As a longtime instructor of art history at a modeling school, Hogan also observed the important influence that Lautrec’s designs have had on the fashion world and contemporary fashion designers like Jean-Paul Gauthier.

The exhibition also provides excellent insight about important influences on Lautrec’s style. It includes a Japanese woodblock print of Tokyo’s “floating world” and an example by fellow “Master of the Poster” Pierre Bonnard. These spotlight Lautrec’s talent for making bold, vivid images stand out from his designs with little ornamentation. This complements the exhibition of Japanese woodblock prints which will open at San Diego Museum of Art on November 6.

Toulouse-Lautrec's Paris will continue through December 12. It will probably be the last opportunity to see so many Lautrec originals together in one exhibition, so it is an opportunity you will not want to miss.  Read more at: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-12165-San-Diego-Fine-Arts-Examiner~y2010m5d12-ToulouseLautrecs-Paris-to-open-at-San-Diego-Museum-of-Art

County Supervisor Ron Roberts (L) discusses prospects for the arts in San Diego with local voters.
Photo by Max Donner.

Councilmember Todd Gloria (left) and community outreach officer Steve Hill watch live performance of the Moulin Rouge. Photo by Max Donner

Above, Tom Gildred, President of the museum’s Board of Trustees, hears an enthusiatic review of the exhibition from a museum patron.  Photo by Max Donner.