Chocolat Dancing in the Achille Bar

Chocolat Dancing in the Achille Bar is a modern artwork realized in the mid-20th century.

Mixed colored lithograph after H. de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Original title: Chocolat dansant dans le bar d'Achille

The artwork is a reproduction of the original drawing realized by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896.

“Chocolat” was born between 1865 and 1868 in Havana into a family of slaves. We only know his first name, Rafael. Sold as a child as a farm boy, he arrived in Bilbao and acquired the status of a free man. He ran away as a teenager, worked small jobs before meeting a famous English clown, Tony Grice, in a bar. So begins his career as a clown based on his gestures, his pantomimes and the color of his skin which surprises and makes the audience laugh. His duo with the white clown Foottit was established in 1895 until 1905, when their contract was not renewed, their act being considered out of fashion. They resumed their duo in 1909 then separated the following year. Rafael attempts a solo career without success and sinks into alcoholism. He died in Bordeaux in 1917 and was buried in the indigent square.

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