Courageous 1915

Editor: This is “Courageous,” a lithograph drawing on paper by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, made in 1915. It depicts a soldier and a woman, maybe his wife or sweetheart. It feels very somber and poignant; they look exhausted. I'm struck by the way the woman clings to the soldier. How do you interpret this work? Art Historian: Looking at it, I am immediately drawn to the year it was created: 1915. The Great War was raging, casting a long shadow. Considering that, what do you see in the expressions of the figures and in their intertwined stance? Editor: I see anxiety and apprehension. The woman looks mournful, almost like she is bracing for the worst. The soldier looks resolute, but perhaps resigned. Art Historian: Exactly. Steinlen captures a collective anxiety experienced by France. Notice how the woman, shrouded, seems to be both seeking shelter and offering protection. It echoes images of the Madonna sheltering the faithful. Do you see this parallelism as well? How does the artist evoke such a strong sense of cultural memory? Editor: It does! Maybe through their closeness? It is as if their bond and sorrow become monumental. Also the grayscale tones of the lithograph underscore the gloom of wartime. Art Historian: The lack of vibrant colors amplifies the emotional impact, indeed, reinforcing a shared sentiment of grief. The woman’s clinging posture becomes an iconographic gesture signifying the intertwined destinies of individuals and a nation at war. There is an allusion to mourning that speaks universally. What will you take away from this contemplation? Editor: I see how Steinlen used symbolic poses to evoke powerful emotions, reflecting shared grief during wartime. Thank you for helping me see so many layers in what at first appeared as a simple drawing. Art Historian: And thank you. Thinking about such universal narratives of loss truly highlights how we connect with visual symbolism.