Deux Femmes 1902

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen’s “Deux Femmes” features two shadowy figures rendered in graphite. The image came into being through layers of charcoal—a process of accretion. The women's forms emerge from soft, smoky lines which feel tentative and searching. I can imagine Steinlen coaxing these forms into being. The scene is so unassuming and unposed that it feels as though we have caught these women unawares. The charcoal lends a tonal range to the image, and it’s amazing how much feeling can be evoked with such limited means. It reminds me of the work of Degas, who so wonderfully captured the feeling of everyday life. The artist’s marks are delicate but sure, and it shows how even the simplest of gestures can communicate a wealth of information. Ultimately, it is up to us, the viewers, to make sense of what we are seeing.