The life of French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Henri is the son of aristocratic first cousins, and grows up to be very talented but also very short. He moves to Paris, settles into the company of established Impressionists, and begins a passionate relationship with fellow painter Suzanne Valadon. When she leaves him, afraid that she will be too influenced by his style, he goes into an absinthe-soaked decline that ultimately leads to his untimely death aged 37.