Prostitution in Impressionist painting set up pornographically, the implied gaze of a male spectator intrudes on the scene and becomes central to comprehension of the works' content by the viewer." Toulouse Lautrec was known for his famous paintings of prostitutes. He visited the Moulin Rouge and other cabarets in the district of Montmartre in Paris. He began by just sketching the women but then as time progressed, Lautrec started painting them as well. His paintings were more of a documentary of the life of these woman rather than objectifying them. "La Toilette" (1889) depicts a woman, probably a prostitute, sitting on the floor, surrounded
Moulin Rouge the public's tastes. The aim was to allow the very rich to come and 'slum it' in a fashionable district, Montmartre. The extravagant setting – the garden was adorned with a gigantic elephant – allowed people from all walks of life to mix. Workers, residents of the Place Blanche, artists, the middle classes, businessmen, elegant women, and foreigners passing through Paris rubbed shoulders. Nicknamed "The First Palace of Women" by Oller and Zidler, the cabaret quickly became a great success. The ingredients for its success: The Moulin Rouge in Paris was a source of inspiration for: Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge