Saluons Les 1899

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created “Saluons Les,” featuring a judge and military figure, with stark lines. The judge’s robes, trimmed with ermine, are an age-old symbol of authority and justice. Yet, this symbol is not fixed; consider its ancient roots in royal garments meant to distinguish leaders from the common man. The robe reappears throughout history. We see it in religious vestments and academic dress, subtly shifting in meaning. It’s an outward sign of power and knowledge, but also of the hidden and the arcane. Here, though, there’s a tension. Steinlen's stark lines hint at the fallibility of the law. Collective memory may shape our view of authority, and the subconscious can make us question these figures. The judge’s stern face and the soldier’s rigid stance convey control, but their averted gaze leaves us with the sense that something is amiss. The cyclical recurrence of such symbols—robes, uniforms, and so on—reminds us that meanings evolve. They are never fixed, and their appearance in different eras is a testament to their enduring power.