Utrillo was born in Montmartre, the son of French artist Suzanne Valadon. He became an alcoholic at an early age, and in 1900 was first admitted to a sanatorium for treatment. Encouraged by his mother, and as a distraction from his craving for alcohol, he began to draw and paint scenes of cafés, churches and deserted squares around his home. Initially influenced by Impressionism, he developed a personal style when depicting the streets of Montmartre, of using light colours and thickly applied, impasto paint which proved popular and helped create the area's romantic, artistic image.

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