Coup de Vent 

Here we have Steinlen's etching, "Coup de Vent," depicting a family battling against a gust of wind, their forms bent under its force. The mother, a universal symbol of care and protection, clutches her child, while the other children struggle forward, their bodies echoing the wind-swept trees in the background. The scene is laden with the iconography of hardship, calling to mind images of migration and flight that stretch back through art history. Consider the motif of the burdened figure, a visual echo of classical depictions of Atlas carrying the world, or even the figures in a biblical exodus. The emotional weight is palpable, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Observe how the wind itself becomes a character, an unseen force shaping their destiny. This evokes ancient mythologies, where the winds were personified as gods, controlling fate. The family's struggle against this elemental power resonates with our collective memories of human resilience, echoing across time and cultures, each reinterpretation adding layers to the symbol. This image becomes a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of human experience.