Two sitting cats 

Editor: Here we have "Two Sitting Cats" by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen. It is a print, etching and drawing on paper. I’m immediately drawn to the textures and the contrasting light and dark areas. The way Steinlen captured the animals' forms is just wonderful. What catches your eye? Curator: The composition, first and foremost, strikes me as meticulously constructed. Notice how the upright cat and the reclining cat create a pyramidal structure, grounding the piece. The linear elements of the wooden structure beneath provide a stark contrast to the organic forms of the cats. What do you make of Steinlen’s choice to leave large portions of the background untouched? Editor: It brings more attention to the cats themselves and makes them seem like the focus is the material form rather than context. Curator: Precisely. He has intentionally minimised any extraneous detail to emphasise form and texture. Look at the varied linework in the etching - the delicate hatching creates a palpable sense of volume and weight, no? How does Steinlen use line to create shape and form in these figures? Editor: You can really see the different directions and densities in the lines and curves create different shapes and darker and lighter shading, depending on how dense they are. It's clever! Curator: Quite so! Note the heavier lines defining the contours, giving weight to the feline forms, whilst the lighter hatching creates nuanced shading, modelling the surfaces. A masterful example of the medium used to create form! What initially seemed like a simple depiction is, upon closer examination, a complex arrangement of line, form, and texture. Editor: I agree. I initially appreciated it for its representational qualities, but understanding the interplay of the formal elements really elevates it. Curator: It's a work that rewards close and careful observation.