Западноевропейское искусство от Хогарта до Сальвадора Дали

Unit XIV Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)

Henry Toulouse-Lautrec, born to one of the oldest noble families in France, broke both his legs in early adolescence, and they never developed properly. For the rest of his brief existence he remained a dwarf, alienated from his family's fashionable life. He learned to paint, and took refuge in the night life of Paris, which he depicted with consummate skill – scenes of cafes, theatres, and cabarets. All of his portrayals are prompted by the same uncritical acceptance of the facts of Parisian night life that he wished for his own deformity and found only in this shadowy world. At the Moulin Rouge, of 1892, was influenced by Degas, whom he deeply admired. Toulouse-Lautrec's line was sure, almost as much as that of his idol, but his tolerant humanity was entirely his own. The little artist can be made out toward the top of the picture in profile, just to the left of centre alongside his towering cousin and constant companion. It is significant that, to reinforce the psychological impact of the picture, Toulouse-Lautrec extended it on all four sides, particularly at the bottom and at the right. The plunging perspective of a balustrade in the added section pushes the little group huddled about the table into the middle distance, while it forces toward us with startling intensity the face of a heavily powered entertainer, so lighted from below that the shadows are green. Toulouse-Lautrec's smart and vivid drawing style, his brilliant patterning, and surprising colour contrasts were the dominant influence in Paris when in 1900, eight years after the picture was painted, the young Pablo Picasso arrived from Spain.

Make sure you know how to pronounce the following words:

Toulouse-Lautrec; Degas; Picasso; adolescence; alienated; balustrade; cabaret; cafe; dwarf; profile; psychological

At the Moulin Rouge – «Мулен Руж»

I. Read the text. Make sure you understand it. Mark the following statements true or false.

1. Toulouse-Lautrec's parents were French aristocrats.

2. Toulouse-Lautrec took refuge in the wilderness.

3. Toulouse-Lautrec depicted poplars and cathedrals.

4. At the Moulin Rouge was influenced by Renoir.

5. Degas admired Toulouse-Lautrec's works of art.

6. Toulouse-Lautrec's line resembled that of Cezanne's.

II. How well have you read? Can you answer the following questions?

1. Why was Toulouse-Lautrec alienated from his family's fashionable life?

2. What did Toulouse-Lautrec like to depict? Why?

3. Who was Toulouse-Lautrec's idol?

4. What is represented in Toulouse-Lautrec's At the Moulin Rouge? How did the painter depict himself and his cousin in this picture?

5. What did Toulouse-Lautrec do to reinforce the psychological impact of this picture? What did Toulouse-Lautrec do to impress the observer?

6. What was the dominant influence in Paris in 1900? Who was influenced by Toulouse-Lautrec's works of art?

III. i. Give Russian equivalents of the following phrases:

for the rest of one's existence; to take refuge in; uncritical acceptance; to be influenced by; tolerant humanity; it is significant that; the psychological impact; at the bottom of the picture; surprising colour contrasts; the dominant influence; to extend the picture on all four sides; the plunging perspective; to light from below; drawing style; at the right.

ii. Give English equivalents of the following phrases:

неожиданные цветовые контрасты; раздвинуть картину с четырех сторон; терпимость; осветить снизу; психологическое влияние; глубинная перспектива; знаменательно то, что; основное влияние; в течение оставшейся жизни; найти убежище в; стиль рисунка; быть под влиянием.

iii. Make up questions of your own with the given phrases.

iv. Arrange the/allowing in the pairs of synonyms:

a) noble; existence; alienated; humanity; deformity; idol; tolerant;

b) ugliness; aristocratic; life; favourite; patient; hostile; kindness.

IV. Translate the text into English.

Анри Тулуз-Лотрека историки искусства называют постимпрессионистом. Он работал в основном в графике и оставил острые, доходящие до гротеска образы. Это в основном литографии, посвященные типажам парижской богемы. Тулуз-Лотрек делал плакаты с изображением знаменитых танцовщиц и певиц кабаре. В «Мулен де ла Галетт» и «Мулен Руж» художник экспрессивно и драматически изобразил веселье Парижа.

Многочисленные рисунки, эстампы, литографии свидетельствуют о Тулуз-Лотреке как о выдающемся рисовальщике XIX века.

V. Summarize the text.

VI. Topics for discussion.

1. Toulouse-Lautrec's style and characters.

2. Toulouse-Lautrec as a great draughtsman.