Devant L'Invasion 1915

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this artwork called "Devant L'Invasion," and the title gives it away: it’s about being in front of an invasion. The image is etched with many tiny lines, like the frantic strokes of a pen trying to capture a moment that’s already slipping away. You can see the figures of people fleeing, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. It reminds me of Kollwitz, another artist who knew how to make you feel the weight of the world. I wonder what Steinlen was thinking as he worked on this? The figures are all moving forward, away from something terrible. The scratchy lines of the etching create a sense of urgency. Each line seems to vibrate with emotion, so that the whole scene feels like it’s trembling. I think the artist captured something profound about human resilience in the face of catastrophe. It feels very current, in conversation with Goya, with Dix, and with so many artists today.