Belle I c. 1949 - 1954

Saul Steinberg made this ink on paper drawing titled 'Belle I'. Steinberg came to the United States as a refugee from fascist Europe, and much of his work satirizes bureaucratic and social structures. Here, he plays with notions of femininity and social status, particularly in the way women are presented in society. Look at how the woman's body is constructed from simple lines, almost like a paper doll. Her elaborate dress and feathered hat, symbols of wealth and status, contrast with the stark lines of her body and the bare chair she leans against. Is she a real woman, or is she a construction of social expectations? The title 'Belle' suggests beauty, but the drawing itself questions this ideal. Through Steinberg's critical yet playful style, the artwork presents a society absorbed with appearance, inviting us to reflect on how such societal expectations impact our perception of identity and personal worth.