A la Chapelle 

Curator: Here we have a graphic work, a drawing really, attributed to Théophile Alexandre Steinlen titled "A la Chapelle." It looks like an advertisement of some kind. Editor: It's stark, isn’t it? The figure dominates the composition, practically stepping out of the page. I notice it is ink on what seems to be thin paper—look at the wear on the edges. It has clearly been handled quite a bit. Curator: Indeed. Steinlen was deeply involved in Parisian café culture and leftist politics. The "A la Chapelle" presumably refers to a venue in Montmartre popular at the time. This probably was meant as a poster or sheet music cover for Aristide Bruant. It served a dual purpose—art and commerce. Editor: You can see the hasty, expressive line work in the man’s coat, very utilitarian and efficient for reproduction. It speaks volumes about the printmaking process. Did he create it directly on a printing plate or render a drawing? That detail is crucial in understanding its purpose. Curator: Considering Steinlen's engagement with social realism and Art Nouveau aesthetics, this work certainly functions within the world of cabaret culture. The exaggerated gesture seems typical for Bruant as a performer who sang about marginalized populations in Paris. Editor: It’s the layering of labor that fascinates me. You have Steinlen’s labor in creating the image, Bruant's performance as the subject, and the printing trades involved in reproduction. Look at the text; you see all hands at work with drawing of the city, too. Each step signifies different social positions at the time. Curator: The lack of vibrant colors could also suggest something of a bleaker sentiment, especially coupled with what appears to be someone pulling a cart in the background. Though it may advertise Bruant's talents, the work, with its emphasis on the material realities of Parisian life, may hold subversive social undertones. Editor: Agreed. When we really look into these images, there’s a lot we find of the hands who made them! Curator: Indeed, it offers an incisive look at Parisian society and how Steinlen situated his art to engage that reality.