Truffier and Moreno, in Les Femmes Savantes

Truffier and Moreno, in Les Femmes Savantes by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, created in 1893, captures a scene from a contemporary revival of Molière's seventeenth-century comedy. This compelling print is an exemplar of the artist's innovative use of graphic techniques. Executed as a crayon, brush and spatter lithograph, the technique is further refined by the strategic application of a scraper, which sharply contrasts the black ink against the white wove paper. The resulting image, known only in this single state, possesses a raw energy typical of Toulouse-Lautrec's depictions of Parisian nightlife and theatrical society.

The work illustrates the keen interest Toulouse-Lautrec held in the drama of performance, focusing here on two prominent actors who bring Molière’s classic characters to life. The artist was masterful at utilizing the inherent qualities of the lithographic medium to convey texture and movement, creating silhouettes and expressive gestures for both the men and women portrayed. The dramatic use of shadow and texture lends the composition an atmosphere of immediate intensity, moving beyond mere documentation toward psychological portraiture.

This piece is classified as a print, demonstrating how Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the lithograph from a commercial tool to a primary artistic medium during the fin-de-siècle. His commitment to depicting actors, dancers, and the backstage world provides vital insight into French cultural life of the 1890s. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this significant impression as a key example within its collection of Toulouse-Lautrec prints, showcasing the artist's enduring legacy in modern graphic arts.