the word bohemian was first used in paris to mean a gypsy because many people thought that gypsies came from bohemia. the word was then used in the late 19th century (1800s) for poor painters, writers, musicians and actors who often travelled to paris from other towns and tried to earn money. paris was a famous town for painters, writers, and musicians to gather, to learn from each other and to enjoy the life of the city. many of them lived at montmartre, not far from the "moulin rouge". one of the most famous painters to live in montmartre was henri toulouse-lautrec. he loved to paint the can-can dancers and prostitutes. he did many posters to advertise the nightclubs. the posters are now famous works of art.