Les Grands Douleurs 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created 'Les Grands Douleurs' using crayon and perhaps a touch of watercolor. The composition is structured around a stark contrast: the somber black piano acts as a rigid vertical axis, dividing a space animated by two figures rendered in gentle strokes of yellow and brown. The vertical lines of the standing woman's dress, echoed in the wallpaper, contrast with the curves of the seated woman and the flourishes of her musical expression. Steinlen uses these visual elements to create a structured yet fluid space, inviting the viewer to interpret a scene that balances formality with intimate emotions. These stylistic choices, combined with a muted color palette, may destabilize conventional notions of portraiture, and instead engage with themes of modern life and the psychological spaces inhabited by his subjects. Consider how the deliberate placement of the figures and the rhythmic lines of the drawing work together to form a rich visual experience.