Twee vrouwen en een man op straat 1896

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this striking lithograph titled 'Twee vrouwen en een man op straat'. The use of colour is quite restricted with a range of subdued tones that create a harmonious yet muted palette, giving the work a somewhat melancholic feel. The figures are arranged in a shallow depth of field, almost as if flattened against the picture plane. The lines are fluid yet defined, outlining the forms and adding a sense of movement. Light and shadow model their figures, creating volume and depth. Steinlen subtly challenges traditional artistic conventions through his depiction of everyday scenes, inviting us to reconsider beauty and meaning within the mundane aspects of urban life. The slightly asymmetrical composition destabilizes conventional notions of balance and symmetry, mirroring the dynamism of city life. Through its formal structure, the artwork acts as a commentary on modernity, capturing fleeting moments of life as a complex interplay of light, form, and emotion.