Man en vrouw zitten aan een tafel in een café 1900

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this poster for the Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin in 1900, using lithography. Immediately, the composition strikes us with its division: the intimate foreground of a couple versus the background throng of men. The muted palette of blues, yellows, and reds adds to the overall impression of a common Parisian café. Structurally, the poster stages a contrast between private and public spheres. The woman's posture, leaning away, suggests discomfort, while the man leans in, invading her space. The perspective flattens the scene, drawing attention to the social dynamics rather than depth. The use of bold text above juxtaposes the drama onstage with that of ordinary life. Steinlen challenges fixed meanings of social interaction, rendering the tension between individuals within a larger collective. This is a visual study of relationships amid the clamor of Parisian life. It invites endless interpretation.