THEOPHILE-ALEXANDRE STEINLEN (1859-1923) MOTHU ET DORIA. 1893. 49x36 inches, 124 1/2x91 1/2 cm. Pajol, Paris. Condition B+: restored losses, repaired tears and restoration in right margin. Framed. In 1893, Steinlen had "produced [this] his first important poster . . . a successful experiment in clarity of composition and simplicity of form. Mothu and Doria were performers who often sang the repertoire of Albert Pajol, a lyricist and publisher who commissioned the poster and four sheet music covers from Steinlen" (Steinlen p. 115). Their "scenes impressionnistes" were something akin to impersonations or tableaux. Amongst the roles they adopted and the characters they portrayed was this duo of shabby drifter and aristocrat. Under Steinlen's masterful guidance, this scene, ostensibly of one man lighting his cigarette from another's, becomes infused with mystery, suspense and perhaps even menace. The exquisite rendering of the two men, the crachis [splatter] effect to help render the darkness of the night, the glowing lamp posts, all contribute to making this one of Steinlen's masterpieces. Steinlen 88, Bargiel & Zagrodzki 12, Crauzat 490, DFP-II 780, Schardt p. 39, Maitres 46.
