Artwork
Mlle Moréno de la Comédie-Française
Mlle Moréno de la Comédie-Française is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Edmond Aman-Jean. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Edmond Aman‑Jean’s 1897 color lithograph, titled Mlle Moréno de la Comédie‑France, presents a portrait of the actress Marguerite Moreno.
About this work
Overview
Edmond Aman‑Jean’s 1897 color lithograph, titled Mlle Moréno de la Comédie‑France, presents a portrait of the actress Marguerite Moreno. Rendered on Japanese paper, the image shows the sitter in profile, her hair gathered in a tidy bun and a dark dress framing a serene, slightly reverie‑like expression. The composition is softened by muted tones that merge gently with the surrounding background.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures Moreno at a moment of quiet contemplation, emphasizing her theatrical poise without overt dramatization. By focusing on her profile and restrained demeanor, Aman‑Jean suggests an inner world of thoughtfulness, aligning the portrait with the late‑19th‑century interest in psychological depth within portraiture.
Technique & Style
Aman‑Jean employed lithography, a planographic process in which the artist draws with greasy media directly onto a flat stone surface. After treating the stone, ink adheres only to the drawn areas, allowing for subtle gradations of color. The choice of Japanese paper contributes to the print’s delicate surface texture and the soft blending of hues characteristic of Aman‑Jean’s refined aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Created in 1897, the lithograph entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent French printmaking of the fin de siècle and to document the cultural figures of the French stage.
Artist & collection
