Entre Deux Trains - Original drawing 

This drawing, by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, captures the weariness of soldiers between train journeys. Notice how the figures are slumped and helmeted, their forms conveying exhaustion. This posture is reminiscent of depictions of the 'melancholic' or mourning figure throughout art history. Consider Dürer's "Melancholia I," where the winged figure sits, surrounded by tools, yet unable to act. Similarly, these soldiers, caught ‘entre deux trains,’ are suspended in inaction, their energy depleted. The helmets shield their faces, obscuring individual emotion, yet amplifying a collective experience of fatigue and waiting. This echoes the way masks in ancient rituals were used to channel collective identities and emotions, becoming powerful vessels for shared human experiences. The image resonates with the subconscious anxieties of a war-torn era. The cycle of conflict and rest, mirrored in their journey, reflects a deeper cycle of suffering and resilience.