Orphans of War 1915

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this image, Orphans of War, with crayon on paper. The softness of the medium lends itself to the sombre mood and subdued palette, doesn't it? You can see how the medium is integral to its reception. The image presents a mother and three children cloaked in shadow, rendered with a flurry of layered strokes. Look at the way Steinlen uses the crayon to build depth and emotion. The lines are like whispers, suggesting rather than defining form, which creates an atmosphere of vulnerability. Notice how the mother's face is etched with sorrow, and how her veil seems to blend into the shadows that envelop her children. Her dress is formed of simple but artful lines, which bunch at the base of the image, drawing the eye and adding to the emotion of the work. Steinlen, like his contemporary Käthe Kollwitz, used his art to comment on social issues. Both artists used line to create emotional depth and to evoke empathy for their subjects, inviting us to reflect on the human condition. Isn't it fascinating how a simple line can speak volumes?