Study for L'Hiver - Cat On A Cushion 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this drawing, "Study for L'Hiver - Cat On A Cushion," using what looks like graphite or charcoal on paper. The choice of material is interesting, since Steinlen was well known for his prints and posters. Typically, a drawing like this would be a study, a preliminary step toward a more mechanically reproduced image. You can almost see how the grainy texture of the charcoal might translate to a lithographic stone. It would be a way of getting a handmade quality, but multiplied. In any case, the medium is perfectly suited to the subject: a slightly scruffy, domesticated cat. The marks are smudgy and casual, capturing the animal's relaxed posture. The cushion itself is only lightly suggested, all the attention given to the cat's fur and knowing expression. Consider this drawing as a moment in the artist’s larger practice, which blurred the lines between fine art and commercial work. In this case, it’s a fascinating example of the artist's process, and of how "low" materials like charcoal, can be used to great effect.