Channel 4 (UK) Documentaries

Toulouse Lautrec: The Full Story (1) (2006x6)

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Sometimes comic, often tragic, this is a tale of aristocracy, obsession, alcoholic and sexual excess. Yet during the course of his turbulent life, Lautrec succeeded in producing a huge body of work that was truly revolutionary in tone and impact, shattering the distinction between high and low art. He transformed the darkest depths of the human condition into artistic gold. Waldemar argues that the story of Lautrec is also the story of the birth of celebrity and mass media. Yet a century after his death, the artist has received none of the usual acclaim in line with his achievements. Toulouse Lautrec's crime was that he remained the consummate outsider - an outsider to his family when he was alive; to critics when he died; and by art historians ever since. All are guilty of taking him less seriously than he deserved. Waldemar tells Toulouse Lautrec's story in all its fascinating detail, celebrating the vibrant life and career of one of the world's most misunderstood geniuses.