Escouade en Marche 1917

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print, Escouade en Marche, sometime in the early 20th Century, pulling the image from a metal plate. Look how Steinlen uses these tight, nervous lines to create a sense of movement and exhaustion, almost like he’s sketching with acid. The figures, burdened with packs, lean into the unseen, their forms emerging from a scratched background. Notice the way the light catches the helmets and the folds of their coats, all described with such economy of line. It’s the texture of the plate that really grabs me; the way the ink clings to the etched crevices. Each line feels like a struggle, mirroring the arduous march of these soldiers. And that one dark patch on the horizon? It could be anything – a storm, a battle, or just the weight of the world bearing down. Steinlen’s cats have that same kind of wiry energy, but here, he channels it into something heavier, more somber. Think of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who knew how to turn line into lament, but with a bit more tenderness. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art isn’t just about beauty, it’s about bearing witness, even when it’s hard to look.