Classe 17 - 8 Janvier soir 1916

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing using a blue crayon on paper. Imagine him quickly sketching these figures, capturing the fleeting moment of a group of soldiers walking by. I’m curious about his choice to use a blue crayon; there’s a melancholic, muted quality to it. I think it really adds to the feeling of anonymity of the figures. They almost disappear into the blue haze. What was Steinlen thinking as he made this artwork? Was he capturing a memory, or just trying to evoke the feeling of people passing by on the street? The way the lines are drawn feels very direct and unpretentious, like a newsprint. But the marks also have a very personal quality, with each stroke embodying a specific feeling or idea. It reminds me a little bit of Daumier's lithographs of Parisian life. It’s fascinating how artists can engage in a visual dialogue across time, speaking to each other through their creative choices.