Les Deux Amis 1917

Editor: This is “Les Deux Amis,” or "The Two Friends," created in 1917 by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, using ink and drawing. The piece strikes me as deeply melancholic, maybe because of the muted tones and the obviously burdened figure carrying another on his back. What’s your interpretation of this work? Curator: Given its creation in 1917, during the height of World War I, it's almost impossible not to read it through the lens of that devastating conflict. Think about the sheer scale of loss and trauma experienced by soldiers, and how Steinlen, known for his socialist leanings, might depict the cost of war on the working class. What kind of relationship do you imagine existed between the two friends depicted here? Editor: I imagine them as comrades, but the dynamic is complicated by the physical dependence in the image. There’s a fragility to the figure being carried that speaks to a loss of agency and maybe even identity. Curator: Exactly. And considering the political landscape of the time, could this be Steinlen’s way of critiquing the hierarchical structures that placed young men, often from marginalized communities, in harm's way? Consider the artistic choices – the somber tones, the simplification of form – do these choices amplify the social critique embedded within the artwork? Editor: I see that. The starkness of the image emphasizes the harsh reality of war, stripping away any romantic notions. I’d overlooked the socioeconomic factors at play, but framing the piece through that perspective really changes how I understand its message. Curator: It's in recognizing those often-invisible power dynamics that we can truly begin to unpack the complexities of an artwork like "Les Deux Amis." By intertwining historical context, and acknowledging the realities of identity, we expand our understanding of artistic narratives.