Route Traversant Un Village 1902

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this print of a village street, capturing a scene that seems both ordinary and laden with hidden meanings. Notice the stark, empty road stretching through the village. Roads have always been symbols of journeys, both physical and spiritual, and Steinlen’s road leads us into the unknown. Think of the Roman roads, built to connect and control, or the Silk Road, a conduit for cultural exchange. Here, though, the road is deserted, evoking a sense of isolation and uncertainty. The rows of houses, uniform and silent, add to this feeling. They remind me of ancient cityscapes, where buildings were not just shelters but symbols of communal life and social order. Yet, here, they seem detached, almost ghostly, reflecting perhaps the anxieties of modern life, the subconscious fear of being lost or disconnected. The village road, once a symbol of connection, now speaks to the complexities and contradictions of our modern world.