L'Honneur du Patron 

Here, in this scene by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, we witness a suggestive dance between social hierarchy and personal desire. At the forefront, a man, presumably ‘le patron,’ receives a kiss, a gesture laden with implications of power and intimacy. Consider the kiss itself. Since antiquity, this act has been far more than a simple greeting; it is a signifier of fealty, a seal of contract, or a transaction. We see echoes of Judas's betrayal, and the kiss of peace in early Christian rituals. Here, it evokes a complex web of dependence and unspoken agreement, a social contract played out in a private moment, set against the backdrop of a voyeuristic crowd. The composition invites us to ponder the ever-shifting meanings attached to such gestures, questioning the boundaries of social exchange. This kiss, loaded with history, continues its dance through time, a symbol constantly reshaped by the shifting sands of culture and power.