There is no shortage in the annals of history of historical figures who were not big on celibacy or marital fidelity, and many of them made frequent use of prostitutes, and visited whorehouses on a regular basis. However, some historical figures took that to another level, and had an out-and-out obsession with prostitutes. Among the pioneers of the Post-Impressionist period, he ranks along the likes of Van Gogh and Gauguin. His work was marked by an extreme simplification of outlines and movement, and the frequent use of large color areas.
His private life was marked by a fixation on prostitutes, which spilled over into his art and influenced his paintings. In his teens, Toulouse-Lautrec broke his thigh bones in a pair of accidents, and the mishaps required extensive periods of painful convalescence.
He filled the lonely hours by painting. The accidents left him with atrophied legs, and made walking very difficult for the rest of his life.
He moved to Paris in the early s, and devoted himself to becoming an artist. He also devoted himself to the nightlife and prostitutes. The Moulin Rouge actually reserved a table for him every night, and displayed his paintings. He also enjoyed checking out the theater, circus, and dance halls, in the company of prostitutes. As much as he liked prostitutes, they liked him back: they befriended Toulouse-Lautrec, modeled for him, and even supported him when he was financially strapped.
Prostitutes and madams accepted the crippled artist as a fellow outcast, and he liked their company so much, that he would sometimes pack up and move into brothels, living there for months on end.
