Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born on November 24, 1864 in Albi, in southern France, into an aristocratic family (his full name being Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa). Early in life he suffered serious injuries—two fractures to his legs in his teens—which stunted his growth and left him with a short, frail stature. Rather than hold him back, this adversity seemed to propel him toward art: he began drawing animals and horses (reflecting his family’s equestrian interests) and eventually moved to Paris to study under Léon Bonnat then Fernand Cormon, embracing the bohemian milieu of Montmartre. In the 1890s, Toulouse-Lautrec became known for his vivid depictions of Parisian nightlife—cabarets, cafés, dancers, and brothels—bringing to life the energy of the Belle Époque with a fresh, psychological eye. His mastery of lithography and poster art helped transform commercial prints into works of art, and his iconic images such as “Moulin Rouge: La Goulue” positioned him as a key figure in late-19th-century graphic design. His style blends the immediacy of drawing with bold outlines, expressive color, and a sense of movement and atmosphere drawn from life. Sadly, his life was short: he died on September 9, 1901 at the age of 36. But despite—or perhaps because of—his brief career, Toulouse-Lautrec left a lasting legacy, influencing poster art, modern graphic design, and the way artists depict nightlife and urban culture.