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Toulouse-Lautrec & Van Gogh

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec first made the acquaintance of Van Gogh at Cormon's atelier 1886. The two artists forged a bond through their discussions on painting and their shared love of Japanese prints.

They stayed out together in the evenings, walking through the narrow streets of Montmartre and making regular visits to the Tambourin café. It was in that very café that Lautrec made his portrait of Van Gogh, where he appears seated at a table with a glass of absinthe in front of him. In the portrait, Lautrec not only managed to capture the most identifiable physical features of his friend, but also his manic, passionate personality.
That same year, Van Gogh would paint “Café Table with Absinthe”, whose style shows the influence of Lautrec’s portrait. The two men shared a courteous relationship based on mutual respect.

Vincent Van Gogh, 1887, credits: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Une photo de l’atelier Cormon, 1885