Qu-avez Vous Fait 1899

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this drawing, titled ‘Qu-avez Vous Fait’, capturing a moment of somber reflection, steeped in the social realities of its time. Steinlen was deeply affected by the poverty and social injustice he witnessed in the streets of Paris, depicting the lives of the working class with empathy. Here, the body language between the figures—a man in plaid pants with his head slightly bowed, and a woman beside him dressed in dark garments and a veiled face—speaks volumes. What has happened? What has been done? The title is a direct and intimate question. This scene may reflect the struggles and moral questions of people living in that period. The figures appear to be caught in a moment of shared grief or guilt. What stories do you imagine they carry? What burdens do they share? The artwork invites us to consider the human cost of social inequality and the emotional toll it takes on individuals.