Aux Desesperes Pour Qu-ils Choisissent 1898

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this work, "Aux Desesperes Pour Qu-ils Choisissent", using lithographic crayon and spray with a scraper. The composition is dominated by the figures emerging from a dark, undefined background, with stark contrasts in light and shadow creating a somber mood. Consider how the structure of this image—its play between light and darkness, and the arrangement of figures—contributes to its meaning. The figures are not individually distinct but almost merge, signifying a collective suffering and a shared destiny. Steinlen uses the formal elements to highlight the desperation and the blurred lines between individual fates, questioning the choices available to the 'desperate'. The torch, as a focal point, can be seen as a semiotic device: it represents enlightenment, but its limited reach suggests the inadequacy of simple solutions. This functions as a social commentary on the socio-economic conditions and challenges fixed meanings of social progress.