Inspired by Photography

The Kunstmuseum in Bern presents the exhibition "Toulouse-Lautrec and Photography". More than 300 exhibits will be on display until 13 December. The show is accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue, released by Hirmer Publishing. 

For the first time, the work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) is juxtaposed with Fin-de-siècle photography.

The world-famous French painter regularly utilised photographic images in his creative work – commissioning three friends to provide him with the required photographs. The same companions also captured Lautrec in an unusually vast number of portraits, often in the strangest poses and disguises.


Lautrec's Photographer Friends
Only one of these three friends, Paul Sescau, was a professional photographer. The other, François Gauzi, was an aspiring painter, studying together with Lautrec at the studio of Fernand Cormon. The third, a wealthy enthusiast with the name of Maurice Guibert, had previously received painting lessons from Lautrec until discovering his true passion in the medium of photography. The exhibition and accompanying catalogue now introduce these three significant companions in Toulouse-Lautrec's life and work.

For further information visit Kunstmuseum Bern