Peacock 

Here we see Théophile Alexandre Steinlen’s drawing of a peacock in ink. The drawing is a study in contrasts. The form is clearly legible as a peacock. The drawing captures the essence of the bird with a remarkable economy of line. Steinlen uses a flurry of lines to describe the texture of the feathers and the subtle gradations of light and shadow. The neck and head are rendered with smooth, continuous strokes that evoke the bird’s elegant posture. Note how the tail feathers, with their sweeping lines, create a sense of movement and dynamism. The overall composition is carefully balanced, with the peacock’s body forming a diagonal axis. The drawing's simplicity invites contemplation on the nature of representation and the power of suggestion. It demonstrates how an artist can capture the essence of a subject. The artist utilizes minimalist forms, with the cultural associations of the peacock to create an image that is both aesthetically pleasing and conceptually engaging.