Three Cats Study 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made "Three Cats Study" with pen and ink on paper. This straightforward combination of tools is a direct method, one of the most fundamental ways to create an image. The choice of pen and ink is critical, as the medium lends itself to precision and detail, but also to a certain fluidity. Look at how the artist captures the different poses and expressions of these cats. There's a sense of movement and life in the loose lines. We can almost see the artist's hand moving across the paper, quickly sketching these observations. The simplicity of materials and the directness of the artist's hand reflect Steinlen's roots in printmaking and his sympathies with social realism. He found beauty in the everyday, elevating ordinary subjects through skill and close attention. The immediacy of the drawing captures the essence of the animals, as well as the artist's own presence and perspective. It reminds us that art is often about the act of seeing, recording, and interpreting the world around us.