Henri Riviere 1907

This is a portrait of Henri Riviere, made by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, probably in charcoal. It's all about mark making, how a bunch of scribbles can turn into a face, a suit, a whole person. Look at the lines around his jacket. They're almost frantic, like the artist was trying to capture not just what he saw, but the energy of the moment. It feels like a quick sketch, but there's also a real attention to detail, especially in the face, like those glasses perched on his nose. I love the way Steinlen uses these short, choppy lines to create a sense of depth and texture. The whole piece feels very immediate and intimate, like we're getting a glimpse into a private moment between two friends. Like Van Gogh's portraits of his postman. Art is just people looking at people, responding to each other across time.