En Attendant 1895

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen rendered En Attendant with lithographic crayon, a grease-based medium, on paper. The softness of the crayon allows for subtle gradations of tone and texture. Look at the way Steinlen coaxes a range of emotions from this simple medium: tenderness, compassion, resignation. The soft, blurred edges of the figures suggest a world in which clear boundaries have broken down. The downtrodden queue in hope, waiting for their meager share. The woman dispensing the soup looks away, perhaps unable to fully meet their gaze. Lithography involves drawing on a stone or metal plate, treating it with chemicals, and then using oil-based ink to print multiple impressions. It's a process that democratized art production, making images more accessible. Steinlen’s choice of this reproductive medium, combined with his subject, underscores his commitment to representing the lives of ordinary people. Ultimately, Steinlen invites us to consider the human cost of industrial society, and the role of art in bearing witness to social injustice.