He grew only to a height of 4'6", suffered from a number of physical ailments, and died in 1901 at the age of 36. He is famous for his posters of music halls, cabarets, and circuses. Who was he?

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, born into an aristocratic French family in 1864, is indeed the individual described. His distinctive physical appearance was a result of a genetic disorder, possibly linked to inbreeding within his family, which caused his legs to stop growing after he broke both femurs in separate accidents during his adolescence (Review). This left him with a full-sized torso but stunted legs, leading to a height of approximately 4 feet 8 inches, though some sources state 4 feet 6 inches, and requiring him to use a cane to walk. He also suffered from various other physical ailments throughout his life. Toulouse-Lautrec's life was tragically cut short at the age of 36 when he died in 1901, primarily due to complications from alcoholism and syphilis.

Despite his physical challenges and relatively brief life, Toulouse-Lautrec left an indelible mark on art history. He immersed himself in the vibrant, often scandalous, nightlife of late 19th-century Paris, particularly in the bohemian district of Montmartre. He became renowned for his captivating posters, which masterfully captured the essence of the city's music halls, cabarets like the famous Moulin Rouge, and circuses. His work elevated the advertising lithograph to a high art form, making celebrities of performers such as Jane Avril and La Goulue, and offering a unique, intimate glimpse into the lives of the entertainers and working-class people he encountered.

Toulouse-Lautrec's innovative use of color, line, and composition, influenced by Japanese woodblock prints and Impressionist art, made his posters instantly recognizable and highly sought after. He was a prolific artist, producing thousands of drawings, hundreds of watercolors, and numerous prints and paintings during his short career. His unique perspective and sympathetic portrayal of marginalized individuals, combined with his artistic genius, cemented his legacy as a pivotal Post-Impressionist artist whose influence extended well beyond his early death.