Chanson Frele 1897

"Chanson Frele" (1897) by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen is a black and white drawing that depicts a woman in a dark room, her face obscured by shadows and a large hat. The woman is sitting on a couch, her cat curled up at her feet. The artwork's somber mood and suggestive imagery reflects the artist's preoccupation with the plight of working-class people, particularly in his native Paris. Steinlen's use of chiaroscuro and bold lines lend a dramatic quality to this piece, drawing attention to the figure's melancholic pose and the loneliness of the setting.