At the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi in south-west France for an exhibition of the works of Henri-Gabriel Ibels. Ibels, who was born in Paris in 1867, was a founder-member of the Nabis group of artists.

Ibels played a vital role in shaping the artistic and political spirit of the Nabi circle. As well as being a painter, poster designer and illustrator, he also worked as a journalist, and often used his art a a vehicle for political commentary.

Henri-Gabriel Ibels

Ibels became a close friend of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and they shared an interest in similar subjects, so it is fitting that the current exhibition is in the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec. The subjects of his paintings and posters include circus performers, the theatre, café life and political activists, as well as ordinary Parisians.

The exhibition is the first major retrospective devoted to Ibels and brings together more than 230 works, many of them rarely seen or newly restored.

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Soldat à La Charité-sur-Loire’ (undated)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Au café-concert’ (1892 – 93)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Le Coup de Piston’ (undated)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Scene de cirque, Clown de dos’ (1893)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘L’affiche de L’Escarmouche’ (1893)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Salon des Cents’ (1894)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Yvette Guilbert sur scene’ (1894)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Clown’ (1895)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Les Naiades’ (1897)

Henri-Gabriel Ibels ‘Le Pardon’ (1910)