Orgon in gesprek met Dorine 1878 - 1879

Jean-Antoine-Valentin Foulquier made this lithograph called 'Orgon in gesprek met Dorine', sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts a scene from Molière's play, 'Tartuffe'. The play is a biting satire of religious hypocrisy. Orgon, the man on the right, is so blinded by his admiration for the supposedly pious Tartuffe that he ignores the warnings of his family and the clear evidence of Tartuffe's deceit. Dorine, the maid, is the voice of reason, fearlessly speaking truth to power. Foulquier's print captures the tension of the play, the way that social structures and institutions can be manipulated by those seeking power and influence. 'Tartuffe' was controversial in its own time, banned by the French authorities for its perceived attack on religion. Yet it speaks to timeless truths about the dangers of blind faith and the importance of critical thinking. To understand this image fully, we might consult theatrical archives, religious histories, and the writings of Molière himself. Art like this is always part of a larger conversation.