Le Coup de Vent 1905

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing of two windswept girls, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century, with pencil on paper. Imagine the artist working fast, capturing the fleeting energy of the scene, the wind whipping around these figures. I wonder what it was like for Steinlen, trying to keep up with the movement, deciding which lines to commit to. There’s a real sense of dynamism here, like the girls are about to be carried away. The sketchy lines give everything a sense of lightness, the figures almost dissolving into the wind itself. I’m reminded of other artists who were drawn to depicting modern life, like Toulouse-Lautrec. What I love about drawings like this is that they remind me that art doesn't have to be about grand statements. It can be about capturing a simple, everyday moment and imbuing it with feeling. It's a reminder that art is all around us, in the everyday movements we experience if we take the time to observe.