MMFA 2016: Théophile Steinlen

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen
June 18 - October 30, 2016

The above poster by Théophile Steinlen is included in the current Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' exhibition TOULOUSE-LAUTREC ILLUSTRATES THE BELLE ÉPOQUE. One more of his works is also on display at the exhibition, a drawing of a dance hall interior executed in coloured crayons.  

Théophile Steinlen was the Toulouse-Lautrec's contemporary. He was a Swiss-born painter and printmaker of the French Belle Époque. His permanent home was Montmartre, the realities and the environments of which were his favourite subjects throughout his life. He often painted scenes of some of the harsher aspects of life in that area of Paris.

Steinlen frequented the literary cabaret known as Le Chat Noir, founded by a fellow Swiss expatriate Louis Rodolphe Salis. It was there that Steinlen met and befriended writers such as Paul Verlaine, and artists Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Louis Anquetin, Jean-Louis Forain, Henry Somm, Adolphe Willette, Félix Vallotton, and Caran d’Ache, among others. All these writers and artists influenced each other and created works of art and literature that are still greatly valued today.

Visit MMFA exhibition TOULOUSE-LAUTREC ILLUSTRATES THE BELLE ÉPOQUE to see, among others, Steinlen's two original works, and to learn about the French Belle Epoque.

Click on the image of the poster above to enlarge it.

Hover your mouse over it for description and credits.

You can read about the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition here.

You can also read my post about the two works by Louis Anquetin which are also included in the MMFA's Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition here. 
  

For more information about the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts exhibitions, visit the museum's website.