Visual Art

Review: Toulouse-Lautrec

It’s not often that the creations of a legendary French artist become available for perusal on your own doorstep so imagine my delight when I discovered that the spa town of Harrogate was playing host to the works of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.

Lautrec, although hampered by physical deformity, was an artistic genius, and responsible for some of the most visually stimulating works ever produced, and if, like me, you’re a fan, then the Gascoigne Gallery on Royal Parade is the place you need to be.

Running from 25th February until the 19th March inclusive, the exhibition includes elements of Lautrec’s short life and career, from his obsession with Parisian nightlife through to the various circus performers he immortalised before he died, and is well worth a visit, not only as a chance to pick up an original lithograph, but also as an opportunity to pay homage to the master in the most relaxed and comfortable of surroundings.

Unlike some commercial galleries who operate an austere and ‘don’t bother if you can’t afford it’ approach, the owners Elaine and Roger Lamb are both warm and welcoming, with an offer of coffee from the minute you walk through the door, which, considering I was accompanied by two small children, not to mention a husband more interested in the nearby lingerie exhibition, was a gesture greatly appreciated.

Discreetly tucked away in a side street and made up of three adjoining rooms – the middle, currently housing a video screen showing the life and works of Lautrec - the gallery, with its brightly coloured walls, roomy sofas, and clever use of mirrors, is the perfect backdrop to enjoy both exhibition and contemporary art at its finest.

And if the success of the opening reception is anything to go by, then this is one that shouldn’t be missed, so if you find yourself at a loose end one afternoon and badly in need of some culture, head off to the Gascoigne Gallery, and bask in the glories of a creative maverick.