Waiting for the end of the century with Toulouse-Lautrec

Paul and Anna-Belinda Firos are two American patrons of Greek origin who, over the years, have built one of the largest art collections in the world and established the Herakeidon Museum in Athens. One of the peculiarities of this collector couple is their passion for paper. "We don't collect paintings. What we like is paper," Paul explained in an interview. "Sketches on paper, where the artist actually uses a pen or pencil to make preparatory drawings. These are works that have the ability to make you feel very close to the artist. With a drawing, you can feel the immediacy of the artist's hand." In Tokyo, the Firoses are showcasing one of their most precious treasures: 240 graphic works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the famous French artist of the Belle Époque. An exhibition that aims to tell the story of the artist and his art, presenting to the Japanese public lithographs, posters, illustrations, magazines, books, letters, and photographs of the artist taken by his friends. An opportunity to discover Toulouse-Lautrec's talent and an immersion into the colorful and theatrical life of late 19th-century Paris.