Infantryman 1915

Editor: This is Théophile Alexandre Steinlen's "Infantryman" from 1915, a lithograph in pencil and crayon. It really grabs me— the stark realism, the visible fatigue on his face… How would you interpret this work? Curator: Well, my dear, the raw emotion practically leaps off the page, doesn't it? That single figure embodies an entire generation facing horrors beyond comprehension. Look at the sketchiness of the lines, almost frantic – a reflection, perhaps, of the artist's own anxieties about the Great War that was raging at the time? You can almost smell the trench, hear the distant booms. I wonder, do you see that sadness in his eyes or just plain exhaustion? Editor: I definitely see the sadness, maybe tinged with a little defiance? Like, he's been through hell but he's still standing. Curator: Defiance... I love that. Steinlen, you see, often depicted working-class folks, the everyday heroes. And perhaps here, he's showing us the weight of history resting on those weary shoulders. Does it remind you of any contemporary works that explore similar themes? Editor: Hmm, I see some echoes of Kathe Kollwitz in his focus on social issues and human suffering. Curator: Excellent connection. Both artists really used their art as a voice for the voiceless, didn't they? But the real power of Steinlen lies in his simplicity, his ability to capture so much with so little. This isn’t about glorifying war; it’s about the cost, the human cost, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. It really personalizes a conflict that we often see on a grand, impersonal scale. I’ll definitely be looking at Steinlen’s other work now, especially his pieces about the war. Curator: And perhaps, it reminds us, poignantly, that those shadows of conflict, of human suffering, never really fade entirely.