TOULOUSE-LAUTREC

I took my daughter to see this exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery in London. It was a rather small but inspiring affair.  TL's striking drawings were instantly recognisable. Jane Avril's angular poses are full of  awkward movement and vitality. The sketches are large with fluid, energetic brushwork and vibrant colour. I like the coloured ground which throws the white and black into dramatic contrast.

'La Goulue at the Moulin Rouge" was an interesting painting. the shapes, negative and positive are all carefully considered and make an interesting interlocking pattern across the surface of the painting. The fact that the figures on the extreme left and right are emerging/departing seem to pull the central figure in opposing directions which creates tension. These two figures are painted in fairly solid dark colour which contrasts with the diaphanous, light sketchy treatment of the central character.

The repeated motifs across the painting all work left to right creating a painting of subtle unity.