High society! 1894

Curator: Steinlen’s lithograph from 1894, now residing here at the Art Institute of Chicago, gives us pause. It's called "High Society!" Editor: Ha! "High Society!" I find it immediately bittersweet, like finding beauty in decay. The muted tones emphasize a somber mood, don’t they? The composition seems divided by this disparity in fortune. Curator: Indeed. Steinlen's Impressionistic approach offers a snapshot of fin-de-siècle Paris. The drawing juxtaposes, quite bluntly I think, two worlds: impoverished children peering into a crate and an overdressed dog. It makes you wonder what's in that box. Editor: Well, materially, it looks like offal, discarded bits—unwanted scraps, perhaps. Look how intently those children are gazing, though! I get a sense they're not disgusted; more like curious, hopeful even. They huddle close, sharing the warmth or… disappointment. It evokes the resilience of the human spirit. Curator: The formal composition underscores that dichotomy further. The well-fed dog, a symbol of bourgeois indulgence, stands in stark contrast to the thin, barefoot children and the refuse they eye as a source of sustenance, which introduces classism to the discussion. What is Steinlen inviting us to consider, structurally speaking? Editor: Perhaps he wants us to reflect on the imbalance, to really *see* it. The children are huddled, almost contained by the box and other lines within the lithograph. It really accentuates a kind of societal segregation, whereas the dog seems detached. Its gaze doesn’t even acknowledge them. So, that kind of brings up a philosophical dilemma… do we actively ignore disparity? Or… Curator: Do we become complacent? The technique further underscores this. The loose, almost sketchy lines for the children contrast with the sharper definition of the dog’s coat. Editor: Well, for me it all coalesces around this idea of unexpected treasure. It makes one appreciate one's circumstances. Curator: And for me, I can't help but wonder how many Parisian pups donned garments while their youthful counterparts sought solace in… scraps.