Colette child, the daughter of the artist 1889

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen painted this portrait of his daughter Colette, likely in France sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. At the time, the French Academy still held considerable sway over artistic taste, promoting idealized and allegorical subjects. Steinlen, however, aligned himself with a more modern, socially conscious approach. He frequently depicted working-class life in Paris, and here, in this intimate portrait, we see a similar commitment to portraying everyday reality. Colette is shown not as a symbol of innocence or virtue, but as a regular child in a real place. The loose brushwork and naturalistic setting further emphasize the painting's unpretentious quality. This choice reflects a broader trend in French art at the time, away from academic formalism and toward a more direct engagement with the world. The painting style invites us to consider what sources a historian might consult to better understand the social context in which Steinlen was working, and to what extent art shapes and challenges the social norms of its time.