Femme Assise S'Essuyant Les Pieds 1902

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing, "Femme Assise S'Essuyant Les Pieds," with brown ink on paper. Look at how lightly he sketches the figure, using these delicate lines to capture the weight of the woman as she dries her feet. You can see he is thinking through the making, allowing the process to be visible. I'm drawn to the way Steinlen lets the paper breathe, leaving so much untouched. It emphasizes the intimacy of the scene; the woman seems caught in a private moment, unaware she's being observed. The thin ink makes the image feel ephemeral, as though the scene could vanish at any moment. This reminds me of Degas's pastels; he had a similar knack for capturing the everyday moments of women's lives. But Steinlen’s touch is gentler, less critical, and more humane. Like all good art, this drawing is an invitation to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty in the ordinary.