Truffier and Moreno, in Les Femmes Savantes

Truffier and Moreno, in Les Femmes Savantes is a significant lithograph created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec French, 1864-1901 in 1893. This fine print, executed on cream wove paper, captures two prominent stage performers, M. Truffier and M. Moreno, in character during a production of Molière’s classic seventeenth-century comedy, Les Femmes Savantes (The Learned Ladies). The work functions both as a record of theatrical history and as an example of the artist’s prolific output in graphic media.

Lautrec was deeply immersed in the vibrant Parisian entertainment scene of the 1890s. His embrace of lithography reflects a desire to capture the immediate, often artificial, drama of the theater and cabaret, producing prints that moved quickly between illustration, advertising, and high art. The artist’s sharp perspective and economical line work emphasize the dramatic interaction between the two figures, highlighting specific gestures and costumes that define their stage personas. This characteristic graphic style established Lautrec as a central figure in French printmaking during the fin-de-siècle era.

Truffier and Moreno, in Les Femmes Savantes offers valuable insight into the performance history of classic literature at the Comédie-Française at the turn of the century. The piece exemplifies Lautrec’s ability to transform a fleeting theatrical event into a permanent artistic document. Today, this lithograph resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as a key example of the technical mastery and keen cultural observation central to the artist's legacy. As a historically important work, prints of this nature are often made accessible through public domain initiatives for academic study and appreciation.